One district in the South was removed from the severe emergency area list, while the emergency decree will likely be imposed for another three months, according to the Emergency Situation Management Committee's recent meeting at the National Security Council.
Pa Narae district of Pattani province was delisted thanks to an improved situation and its conforming with government policy in resolving the southern insurgency problem.
Somsak Thepsuthin, the deputy prime minister who chaired the committee meeting, said the emergency decree in the southern border provinces was to be extended from Jan 20 to April 19. It was to ensure consistency in the authorities' role in insurgency suppression and protection.
The meeting was attended by Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, Justice Minister; Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Interior Minister; Chatchai Bangchuad, acting secretary-general of the National Security Council; Pol Lt Col Wannaphong Kocharak, secretary-general of Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, and various other agencies.
The agreement will be submitted to the cabinet for further approval.
The government has a plan to lift the emergency decree for the entire southern border area by 2027, according to Mr Somsak.
"To do so, other efforts such as meeting with authorities from the neighbouring country are also crucial," said Mr Somsak.
Out of 33 areas that had been under the emergency decree, 15 areas have had it lifted while 18 remain on the list.