Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung's proposal to impose a curfew in the restive South has drawn fire from Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat.
Mr Chalerm proposed imposing a curfew in limited areas in the far South on Wednesday, following the recent murders of two farmers in Yaring district of Pattani and four traders in Yala's Krong Pinang district.
ACM Sukumpol swiftly rebuked the idea and said a curfew was not necessary. The inability to quell the southern violence stems from lax law enforcement, he said.
Mr Chalerm heads a government committee working on ending the violence in the far South.
Responding yesterday, Mr Chalerm said ACM Sukumpol should not have declared that the military disagreed with the curfew idea.
"The committee will meet next Friday to solve the matter, so how can ACM Sukumpol conclude the military disagrees [with the curfew]?
"Maybe only one air force officer disagrees," he said.
Mr Chalerm said he had raised the curfew idea with deputy army chief Dapong Rattanasuwan, who raised no opposition to the proposal.
As the head of the committee, Mr Chalerm said he was duty-bound to come up with ideas to end the southern violence. "I'm the one who is in charge [of the security issue], not you," Mr Chalerm said, referring to ACM Sukumpol.
The deputy prime minister said there was no need to speak to ACM Sukumpol to patch up their differences.
He also challenged ACM Sukumpol to take over his security role.
"If you are good enough, just ask the prime minister to let you to take over my duties," Mr Chalerm said.
He said curfews should be imposed in red zones, which are designated as high-risk areas.