The National Security Council (NSC) will take a leading role in the peace-building process in the restive South, the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) says.
Isoc spokesman Col Banpot Pulpian said National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has authorised the NSC to take charge of talks with the insurgency movements.
Isoc Region 4, which is responsible for the deep South, has been ordered to proceed with the first steps of the peace-building process, which is to build mutual trust in the restive region to create a foundation for sustainable peace.
Col Banpot was speaking after a video-conference between deputy army chief Udomdet Sitabutr and the forward command of Isoc Region 4 to discuss the handling of the southern situation.
Gen Udomdet is currently chairman of a panel responsible for solving problems in the southern border province.
Col Banpot said the deputy army chief is concerned that violence may escalate during the three-month Buddhist Lent, towards the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Buddhist Lent starts on Saturday and ends on Oct 8, while Ramadan ends in late July.
Authorities have been asked to intensify security operations with a focus on intelligence, Col Banpot said.
Gen Udomdet has also called on the army to strengthen the capacity of local authorities and civic groups in handling security operations.
Meanwhile, two female nursing students were shot dead yesterday at a market in Yala's Yaha district, police said.
Suthira Phetchan, 29, and Kulradee Phetmak, 21, were shopping for food at the market when two gunmen approached them from behind and shot them in the head.
The victims were students at Yala-based Sirindhorn College of Public Health and trained at the Crown Prince's Hospital in Yaha district.
Police said the shooting is likely to be related to the southern violence.
Pol Col Sukhon Sri-arun, chief investigator at Yala provincial police, said yesterday a group of youths is believed to be behind the shots fired at a minibus, which injured eight passengers in Yala's Krong Pinang district on Tuesday.