Acting defence minister visits deep South to assess security handover

Acting Defence Minister Nattaphon Nakpanich is in the deep South today to assess preparations by local administrative agencies to take over security tasks from the military in the region over the next two years.

Nattaphon, who is also deputy defence minister, was scheduled to hold discussions with Lt-Gen Paisal Noosang, commander of the Fourth Army Region, and related authorities, at the Ingkhayuth army barracks in Pattani, about the general situation and security threats posed by insurgents.

According to the plan of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), the military will gradually phase out its peace-keeping role and, by 2027, local administrative agencies, under the Interior Ministry and the police, will take over in 37 districts in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces.

Nattaphon offered an assurance, however, that the military will not abandon the region and will return if civilians cannot cope with the situation.

ISOC will assess the situation periodically, to ensure that the civilians are able cope, he said, adding that he has instructed the Fourth Army Region to explore the possibility of resuming a peace dialogue with the BRN, the umbrella organisation for insurgent groups, which has been suspended since last August.

This was Nattaphon's first visit to the region. He said that, prior to being appointed acting defence minister, he had not had the opportunity to visit the area.