Security forces in the far South have been put on high alert on intelligence reports indicating militants plan more violence before Ramadan ends, with Aug 16-19 the danger period, Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said on Thursday.
Gen Yutthasak said Muslim militants had been instilled with the belief that indulgin in violence during the holy month of Ramadan would count as a good deed.
Therefore, governors of all southern border provinces had been instructed to be on high alert until the end of Ramadan on Aug 19.
Gen Yutthasak, who is in charge of security affairs, said secret contacts had been made with the insurgents by officials of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), but this was not the policy of the security agencies.
Threse contacts had not been developed to the stage that the two side would hold talks. There would have to be a lot of bargaining because it was not clear what the insurgents really want.
Such contacts had been peaceful and agencies in charge of security affairs had received regular reports of the outcome, he said, but would not elaborate.
Gen Yutthasak said there were two major groups of insurgents with a combined strength of about 9,000, mostly young people, with a few leaders.