The 4th Army has abandoned its plan to relocate former insurgents to an area in tambon Sukhirin of Narathiwat's Sukhirin district following fierce opposition by local residents.
The decision comes just a few days after the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) promised to set up a committee to review the plan to establish a new village for the former rebels.
According to deputy 4th Army Region commander Maj Gen Wunlop Thitikul, the committee would work closely with more than 500 residents in three villages close to the area where a village for the former insurgents could be established.
The proposed committee was apparently floated to ward off pressure from locals who expressed discontent at the plan which is part of the 4th Army Region's "Bring People Home" project aimed at helping them reintegrate into society.
It was reported that the 4th Army would set up a village for 105 former insurgents near three villages of Ban Chulabhorn Pattana 12, Ban Rak Tham and Ban Leelanon in tambon Sukhirin.
Residents are concerned the plan would affect the forest, the environment, tourism and their livelihoods.
Piyawat: Bowed to local demands
Speaking after two hours of talks with some 1,000 people in the district on Thursday, 4th Army commander Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich said the plan will be dropped if it is not welcomed by local people.
"If locals don't want it, we won't proceed. We'll consider other areas [for the project] but if the people are also opposed to it, we won't do either. The decision here today is that we won't bring anyone here," he said.
Paendinsayam Suansuwan, the head of Ban Leelanon, said distrust is the reason why residents are opposed to the plan to build the new village.
Mr Paendinsayam said personal assurances from Lt Gen Piyawat at the talks should now be enough to reassure residents, noting the commander made a bad impression when he was quoted in interviews saying only a few residents disagreed with the proposed village.
Nureebin Doloh, a villager in Ban Chulabhorn Pattana 12, thanked authorities for abandoning the plan, saying the local community was already struggling with its own problems.
Both men also called on the government to invest more in the region, especially in the tourism sector, saying tambon Sukhirin has the potential to be developed into an eco-tourism spot thanks to its unspoiled natural environment.
"The people face economic hardship in part because of falling crop prices, especially rubber. We hope the government can do more to promote tourism activities to generate income for local people," Mr Paendinsayam said.
According to Isoc's latest data, 122 ex-insurgents who fled the country have joined the project since October last year and 288 insurgents involved in current fighting will participate.