The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) chief has dismissed criticism of the agency's local terrorist blacklist, saying it will help cut financial support for insurgents in the far South.
Amlo secretary-general Seehanat Prayoonrat was responding to human rights activists' concerns that the list could undermine peace-building efforts in the insurgency-plagued region.
Seven people have been put on the blacklist so far. They include suspected insurgents in the far South and those who authorities believe are giving southern militants financial support.
Rights activists recently expressed fears the blacklist would be used to punish people who have different political views.
Pol Col Seehanat yesterday downplayed their concerns, saying the list will not exacerbate southern unrest, but could slash financial channels for insurgent activities.
The blacklist is being compiled under a new law aimed at preventing and suppressing financial support for terrorism.
Any financial institution that agrees to handle transactions for people on the blacklist, known as designated persons, will be liable to an immediate fine of 1 million baht and additional charges of 10,000 baht per day for as long as the arrangement remains in place.
Managers of such institutions would face criminal charges, and possible sentences of five to 10 years in jail.
The agency plans to put about 4,000 names on the list, Pol Col Seehanat said.
"It does not mean that everyone on the list is a terrorist. They only have outstanding arrest warrants containing terrorism charges," he said.
"The law also allows listed people to petition the court to have their names removed from the list."
Meanwhile, deputy army chief Dapong Rattanasuwan yesterday visited the Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) at the Sirindhorn military base in Pattani's Yarang district. He was there to review operations and brief security officers handling the southern violence.
Gen Dapong, who is also an assistant director at the Centre for Implementation of Policies and Strategies for Solving Problems in the Southern Border Provinces, said Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung had assigned him to oversee working groups dealing with the problem.