The security situation in the far South has improved over the past six months with security authorities adopting various measures including crackdowns and peace promotion programmes, says Lt Gen Wiwat Pathompak, the 4th Army Region commander.
In his capacity as secretary-general of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, he said the government's peace keeping policy was yielding satisfactory results.
Speaking about the period from last October until last month, he said 85.7% of residents living in the far South showed more trust and a more positive attitude towards the policy, an indication of improved security.
A total of 126 people had been detained in security cases during the period, he said.
Of them, six suspects faced arrest warrants for allegedly violating the Criminal Code and 17 more for allegedly breaking the emergency decree, he said, adding the rest were caught under the decree without arrest warrants.
A large number of guns, ammunition and some other types of weapons had been seized during operations over the same period, he said.
Seven insurgent bases had been raided and at least 38 bomb plots had been foiled, he said.
Authorities said they managed to thwart 38 attacks and had disposed of 11 bombs.
More importantly, security organisations in the far south had obtained cooperation from about 26,000 residents.
These residents will also serve as official members of a civil security task force, he said.
Aside from the fight against the insurgency in the region, security agencies in the far South said they had also clamped down on illegal activities including the trafficking of drugs and people.
A total of 101 operations had been carried out against such activities, said Lt Gen Wiwat.
Up to 514 suspects have been detained for questioning while 3.2 million tablets of methamphetamine, 10.4kg of crystal methamphetamine, 20.7kg of heroin, 572kg of dried and compressed marijuana, 8.2 tonnes of the kratom narcotic plant and 17 guns have been seized in the swoop operations.
Also, about 20 rai of encroached land, 2,715 illegal pieces of timber, 78,870 litres of smuggled oil and cash in various foreign currencies totalling 91 million baht had also been confiscated.
There had also been progress in the Yalannanbaru drug rehabilitation programme created to battle the drug problem in the region.
It has 67,288 members, with 4,665 new members joining the programme in the past six months, Lt Gen Wiwat said.
He said 206 open forums had been organised to promote peace in the southern border provinces through public participation.
Residents, including those who hold different views from the state about the government's southern security policy, participated in the forums, he added.
The authorities also have adopted a special programme aimed at reintegrating former members or supporters of insurgent movements back into their communities.
In the past six months, 1,841 people facing security-related offences have turned themselves in to security agencies.
Altogether, 3,837 people have surrendered since the programme's launch more than a year ago, Lt Gen Wiwat said.
Authorities hope almost 2,000 more people will join the programme in the coming months, he said.
He added a movement by more than 52,000 religious leaders and members of the public to support a campaign against security violence after a raid by armed insurgent suspects at the Cho Airong district hospital in Narathiwat on March 13 was a major development.
