Thai Govt Prioritizes Southern Border Conflict Resolution: Wan Noor

Wanmuhamadnoor Matha, Advisor to the Prime Minister and advisor to the government's special delegation for solving problems in the southern border provinces, stated that the government is giving high priority to resolving the ongoing security situation in the three southern border provinces, which has seen continuous violence. He expressed condolences for the recent deaths of rangers and injuries to civilians, condemning the acts as audacious and illegal, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Regarding the imposition of martial law in Narathiwat Province, Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor explained that it is a law for emergencies that allows for more robust operational execution, and it is up to the operational side to determine appropriate methods for each situation. He acknowledged that this might be a response to or complicate the ongoing peace talks, as there are those who wish to negotiate and those who oppose it. The government must weigh how to proceed, but reiterated that dialogue remains a key policy for achieving sustainable peace. He stressed that measures to suppress lawbreakers must be implemented concurrently to prevent the situation from worsening. When asked if the perpetrators are part of the groups involved in the talks, Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor stated he was unaware and that the responsible parties would assess it. He admitted that there are various dissenting groups, including intellectual factions seeking peace and operational factions employing force. He urged a focus on other illegal activities such as drugs and smuggled goods, suggesting that the profits from these might be a motive for prolonging the conflict, thus requiring parallel investigations into all parties. He noted that the affected provinces have widespread drug problems with a significant number of arrests. He also mentioned close monitoring of neighboring countries and the crackdown on illegal oil trading, emphasizing the need to relentlessly eliminate illegal activities that harm the public. On whether funds from illegal activities are used to finance the violence, Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor said this cannot be assessed by him and that officials responsible for security and intelligence should handle it. He stressed that no aspect should be neglected, as the government must expedite legal action against illegal activities, which may be interconnected. Regarding the necessity of convening a meeting of the government's special delegation, Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor stated that the decision rests with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who chairs the delegation and is currently abroad on official business. He indicated that meetings should occur no less than once every two months, especially given the current problematic situation. Responding to accusations that the government and the special delegation are not giving sufficient importance to the southern border issue, Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor asserted that efforts are underway. He noted that governments change frequently, and the current administration has only been in office for six months, but affirmed that they are prioritizing and accelerating efforts on this matter. He added that he himself has been assigned this mission and is actively working on it, expressing hope for a positive resolution with cooperation from all parties and sectors. Source: INN News