The government is considering setting up a so-called front-line cabinet in the far South to fight the southern unrest, following three fresh bomb blasts which rocked Pattani late on Tuesday night.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, in charge of security affairs, revealed the move yesterday, saying cabinet ministers or government representatives will be assigned to direct the effort.
They won't interfere in the military's line of command or with police areas of responsibility, Gen Prawit said.
He said no particular candidates have been picked at the moment, but he will have to travel to the South more frequently while the structure of the front-line cabinet is being designed.
His comments come one day after three new bomb attacks erupted in Pattani killing one and injuring 30 others.
Fifteen of the injured victims were yesterday discharged from hospital while four of them remained in critical condition, said Dr Banchoed Sukphiphatpanon, chief provincial health officer of the province.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said a pickup truck normally used as an ambulance by Paka Harang tambon health promotion hospital was used in one of the attacks.
Permanent secretary for public health Sopon Mekthon said two drivers normally use the vehicle but no conclusion has been reached about whether they were involved in the attack.
The first explosion occurred inside a toilet at a pub beside the packed 80-room Southern View Hotel in Muang Pattani district about 10.40pm. Both buildings were damaged, but there were no casualties.
The second explosion followed at 11.15pm, when the bomb-laden ambulance parked in front of the pub detonated. It caused the death and injuries.
A third bomb went off in a rubbish bin at a market in tambon Bo Thong of Pattani's Nong Chik district. There were no injuries.
The attack followed the wave of bombings and arson in six southern and one adjacent central province on Aug 11-12, when four people were killed and 35 others wounded.
According to a source, the two bombs set off in these attacks were the largest ever deployed in the South over the past 12 years. The bombs were found to be homemade, each containing 180 kilogrammes of explosives stuffed in a 15kg cooking gas cylinder, the source said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the investigation was still under way, so he could not say whether the Pattani bombing attacks were politically motivated or linked to the previous attacks in the seven provinces.
As for progress in the peace talks between the government and southern insurgents, Gen Prawit said he had discussed the matter with Gen Aksara Kerdphol, who oversees the Thai team in talks with the Mara Patani group representing insurgents.
He recommended the team hold informal talks with both the Barisan Revolusi Nasional and Mara Patani before making any decision on the next steps in the process of achieving peace .
Gen Aksara is expected to postpone the signing of terms of reference for the formal southern peace talks until the southern situation has improved.
Gen Prawit said he will join several cabinet ministers this month on a trip to Malaysia for talks with the government on border security.