An armed rebel group opposed to the peace talks agreement plans to stage violent attacks to highlight its resistance to the talks, a security source says.
The group, known as "warriors of Fatoni", met at an undisclosed location near the Thai-Malaysian border and ordered hundreds of young rebels, the Permudo, on standby to stage attacks, the source said.
Permudo is a youth wing supporting the militant movement's operations.
The source said the Permudo will begin the campaign of violence today as the National Security Council and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) prepare for the talks in two weeks.
The violence is also intended to send a message that there are rebel groups which disagree with the peace talks agreement and to show they do not answer to the BRN, the source said.
The NSC delegation and the BRN will meet in Malaysia on March 28 to pursue the peace process, a month after the agreement to initiate it was signed on Feb 28.
In Songkhla, security is being stepped up along a road linking Songkhla with the three southernmost provinces ahead of the peace talks.
All vehicles entering Songkhla via Na Thap-Chana Road will be closely watched by a border patrol police taskforce, and a 24-hour checkpoint has been set up in Ban Tao-it in Chana district.
Na Thap-Chana Road is an alternative route to Songkhla's Muang and Hat Yai districts.
A bomb attack on Friday killed three police officers in Narathiwat province's Rueso district. Police believe it was the work of insurgents opposed to the talks.
Taskforce commander, Pol Sub Lt Wattana Thaptawee, said the increased surveillance is aimed at not only heightening security in the far South but also deterring traffickers of drugs, contraband goods and immigrants.
The route has become popular with traffickers after a permanent checkpoint was set up on the main Asian Highway in Ban Khuan Meed in Chana district.
In Pattani, a soldier was wounded in an exchange of fire at a checkpoint in Yarang district late on Saturday night.
Police said four men travelling on two motorcycles opened fire at the checkpoint of Pattani Task Force 21 at Ban Pikri in tambon Krado of Yarang district while soldiers searched a vehicle.
The soldiers returned fire and a five-minute gunfight ensued. Sgt Thavorn Lekdee, 26, was shot in the right ankle.
In Narathiwat, a tambon administration organisation member was shot dead in Si Sakhon district yesterday.
Police said the attack involved men with AK-47 rifles and occurred about 10am on the Rueso-Si Sakhon Road in tambon Sako. The victim was identified as Mayi Adae, 64, of the Tamayung tambon administration organisation.