Article 101

Promise cooperation in ending troubles

WASSANA NANUAM

Top security officials have responded immediately to Her Majesty the Queen's plea for unity among them in tackling the problem of violence in the South.

The Fourth Army commander, the chief of Police Region 9 and governors of the trouble-plagued provinces have pledged to work together closely from now on.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will today travel to Narathiwat where he will be granted an audience with the Queen to discuss measures with her to return peace to the region.

The prime minister said yesterday that the government, the Thai people and all state officials had taken heed of the Queen's call for them to be courageous and to make the necessary sacrifices to protect innocent lives in the South.

Mr Thaksin said the government would adjust its strategies and the chain of command to bring the violence to an end as quickly as possible. He is scheduled to call a meeting with security officials during his visit to Narathiwat today.

Fourth Army chief Pisarn Wattanawongkeeree said he would give commander of the Fifth Infantry Division Chalermchai Wiroonpetch full authority to order the use of military force in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to cut red tape.

Starting today, Lt-Gen Pisarn said, Maj-Gen Chalermchai would work closely with commanders of various special task forces, battalions and commanders, provincial police chiefs, border patrol police units and provincial officials.

``In the past, the Fourth Army chief acted like a battalion commander. That was wrong as everything had to wait for his decision,'' he said.

Maj-Gen Chalermchai was a classmate of Mr Thaksin at the Armed Forces Preparatory School.

Lt-Gen Pisarn said from now on he would be responsible for coordination at senior levels with the Police Region 9 commander and provincial governors.

Military reinforcements in the deep South would also begin today, he said.

Leaflets in Thai and the Yawi dialect were reportedly being distributed in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat calling for a strike at all workplaces from Oct 7 to protest against the government's inability to solve southern problems.

Defence Minister Chettha Thanajaro will also reportedly open a forum for southerners to air their grievances against state agencies at Ingkhayutthabariharn army camp in Pattani on Monday.

Kovit Wattana, inaugurated as the police chief yesterday, said he had a package of measures ready to tackle southern violence and he would implement it soon.