Security officials say that conditions in Betong, the southernmost district in the country, have improved to the point where a state of emergency is no longer necessary.
The district in Yala province would be placed under the less draconian Internal Security Act if the plan receives government approval, said Gen Wanlop Rugsanoh, the secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC).
The proposal, made by the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), was discussed yesterday by the committee overseeing emergency situations, led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
If the plan is approved, Betong would join Mae Lan district in Pattani and four districts of Songkhla -- Chana, Nathawi, Thepha and Saba Yoi -- as areas covered by the Internal Security Act.
A state of emergency has formally existed for years across the three southernmost provinces -- Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat -- ever since the revival of the separatist insurgency in 2001.
The decree is reviewed every three months and renewals are generally routine. The next scheduled expiry date is March 20, and Gen Wanlop said enforcement across the rest of the region would be extended for another three months to June 19.
A bomb that ripped through downtown Betong on July 25, 2014 damaged several shops and houses. (Photo by Maluding Deeto)
The emergency decree gives widespread power to authorities by allowing them to detain any suspect up to 30 days, whereas the security act caps detentions at seven days.
The security act gives Isoc the power of direct supervision, unlike the emergency decree which is overseen by the national committee headed by the deputy PM.
The NSC chief said the proposed downgrade of Betong did not relate to plans to set up five districts as safety zones in peace talks with Mara Patani, an entity said to represent six insurgent groups.
Betong has experienced few major insurgency-related incidents over the past decade, he noted, adding that the government had selected it as one of three districts to serve as development models. The others are Nong Chik in Pattani and Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat.
The last major incident in Betong was a bomb in the downtown area that killed three people and injured about 40 on July 25, 2014 .
However, the main road to Betong from Muang district in Yala, Road 410, remains one of the most dangerous routes in the border region. The latest major incident was on Dec 17, when a bus bound for Bangkok from Betong was torched in Bannang Sata district. Authorities claimed it was the work of insurgents.
A bus leaving Betong for Bangkok was torched on Road 410 in Bannang Sata on Dec 17, 2017. (Photo by Muhamad Ayub Pathan)
Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich, the southern army commander, on Friday guaranteed the safety of Betong and said the planned lifting of the emergency decree in the district was not a challenge to insurgents.
The Internal Security Act was sufficient to ensure safety for Betong, he said.
"Betong has been safe. Come for a visit. Even Toon Bodyslam came here for a run," he added, referring to the charity run for state hospitals by singer Artiwara Kongmalai, which began in Betong in November.
