Security forces announced they will scale down their operations against insurgents during Ramadan, as a rash of cloth banners denouncing "Siamese colonialists" appeared across the southernmost provinces on Tuesday, one day before the start of the Muslim holy lunar month.
Explosives experts check the area around a roadside sign announcing Ramadan that is draped with a cloth banner condemning "Siamese colonialists" in Narathiwat province on Tuesday. The banner was removed. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
National Security Council secretary-general Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut also announced later in the day that he was informed by Malaysia of the cancellation of a press conference scheduled for 5pm Tuesday, when the the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group was expected to announce a reduction of the violence in the far South.
Malaysia did not give any reason for the cancellation of the press conference, he said.
Malaysia is a facilitator of the peace talks negotiations between Thailand and the BRN.
Despite the cancellation, Lt Gen Paradorn said, the plan to reduce the violence during the Muslim holy month had not been derailed.
Lt Gen Paradon said earlier in the day that security officials were ready to follow the advice of the Muslim Chularatchamontri, Aziz Phitakkumpon, who urged the government on Monday to relax security operations in the coming month in the three southernmost provinces.
The actual start of the holy month depends of a sighting of the moon.
Thailand has urged the BRN to direct militants under its control on the ground to reduce the violence during Ramadan, as a gesture to help resolve the insurgency in the region.
Lt Gen Paradorn said Thailand will coordinate with Malaysia within 48 hours if violence continues during the 30-day period. Thailand will evaluate the situation after Ramadan, before setting a date for the next round of talks with the separatists.
"The search for and checking (of suspected insurgents) will be scaled down,'' he said in Pattani.
On Tuesday morning, cloth banners were found hanging along roads in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Songkhla provinces denouncing the Bangkok government.
The banners bearing a message written in the Yawi dialect and Bahasa Malaysia condemning "Siamese colonialists" were found displayed at 26 spots in five districts of Narathiwat, 11 locations in six districts of Yala, at least 1 district in Pattani and three places in districts of Songkhla.
A road in Narathiwat province sprayed with the message opposing "Siamese colonialists". (Photo by Waedao Harai)
The same message was found sprayed on a road in Narathiwat.
The white cloth banners, each about 3 metres x 5 metres, were hung on roadside tree branches, electricity wires, power posts and signs welcoming the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
A message in Yawi arabic script and standard Bahasa Malaysia rumi script was written on the banners. It can be translated as: "Cruel + Destructive + Deceiving + Smearing = Siamese colonialist." Police and soldiers have removed all of them.
Col Pramote said the message did not reflect the beliefs of the majority of people in the restive region.
The banners were all made in one place and distributed to other areas, he said, and criticised the militants for trying to disrupt the plan to reduce violence in the region.
As part of the efforts to bring southern prisoners close to their families, 54 prisoners serving sentences for security-related offences have been moved to prisons nearer to their homes just ahead of the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
The transfers were confirmed by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre.
Lorkaya Pridi, 43, wife of Patani United Liberation Organisation core leader Kosem Jehloh, said she was very glad that her husband had been relocated from Klong Prem Prison to Central Prison in Songkhla a few days ago.
"I rarely visit him in Bangkok. Weeks ago, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre took relatives of the detainees to meet them, for which we feel very thankful," said Ms Lorkaya, of Pattani's Mayo district.
Most of them were behind bars in the southern region. Only 11 prisoners had been in prison in Bangkok before the relocation.
Meanwhile, a Ronda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) member was arrested on Tuesday during a search of the house of a religious teacher in Narathiwat's Rueso district.
The search, which began at 4am, was made under martial law by a 60-strong team of police and soldiers on the house of Sulaiman Chete, 35, a teacher of a religious school in Rueso district.
During the search the authorities found hidden in the house Dulnia Waehami, 30, who is wanted under two warrants for illegal assembly, attempted murder and having explosives in his possession.
Authorities said he is a member of the RKK group.
The authorities seized about 30 items from the house including an 11mm pistol with 65 rounds of ammunition, five mobile phones and medical supplies.
Mr Dulnia was taken to Narathiwat Task Force 30 headquarters for questioning. Mr Sulaiman was charged with providing shelter for a suspect.