Article 72

Chavalit `supremo' in South as PM flipflops on Chettha
 

Security command in region changed again

YUWADEE TUNYASIRI

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has again changed the security forces chain of command in the South, placing Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in charge instead of Defence Minister Chettha Thanajaro.

Only last week, the prime minister said he would give Gen Chettha total authority over the security command in the region.

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said yesterday the prime minister had decided to put Gen Chavalit in charge because the violence was getting worse.

Mr Thaksin's last-minute decision followed talks with Gen Chavalit, he said.

It was an attempt to end the confusion between the various security agencies, which have not always seen eye to eye.

Previously, Gen Chavalit, as deputy prime minister responsible for national security, oversaw general security issues, while the defence minister oversaw the security command. But the Fourth Army command had authority over operations in the area.

Mr Jakrapob said that as confusion continued to reign in the South and violence escalated unabated, the government has decided to appoint a supremo to oversee overall security in the region.

Mr Thaksin's first choice was Gen Chettha, but he changed his mind yesterday just as the cabinet was about to pass a resolution confirming his choice. Mr Jakrapob said Gen Chavalit was given full authority to take any measures to end the southern violence.

``If any high-ranking official's conduct is found to pose an obstacle to ending the southern problems, Gen Chavalit has the authority to do whatever he deems appropriate,'' the spokesman quoted the prime minister as saying.

Gen Chavalit said conflicts among key security agencies and officials in charge of security were not serious.

He would call a meeting on Friday to settle the problems.

Mr Jakrapob said the involvement of some Islamic teachers and students at ponoh schools in the unrest had also been raised during yesterday's cabinet meeting.

There was concern that some teachers brainwashed students and instilled separatist ideologies. Those young students had been led into causing unrest, including the killing of Pattani provincial court judge Rapin Ruankaew on Sept 17.

The cabinet wanted the Education Ministry to increase its role in the education curriculum of ponohs, Mr Jakrapob said.

``The government will consult local leaders, particularly religious leaders about the plan to establish state-run ponohs.

These ponohs will teach both Islam and other general subjects. The Education Ministry will supervise the teaching at these ponohs and provide financial support to them,'' the spokesman said.

``The government-run schools will be of a high standard and closely supervised by the Education Ministry.''