Discussed: 20 Feb 2025 at 05: 02
Former prime ministerThaksin Shinawatrawill visit Narathiwat on Sunday in his capacity as an informal adviser to the Asean chair to discuss security issues with officials in the deep South, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Wednesday.
Thailand’s southwestern unrest has recently been discussed by Thaksin with Malaysia’s leader Anwar Ibrahim and the Asean chair, who has also suggested better ways to deal with the tense security situation.
Following earlier in the day’s media reports, Mr. Phutham’s assurance of Thaksin’s designed visit came.
The visit is said to be the second since Thaksin was the region’s prime minister about 20 years earlier.
The Thaksin government’s ability to address issues involving southern border surveillance was hampered by numerous significant scandals, including the murder of prominent human rights attorney Somchai Neelapaijit in March 2004 and the simultaneous murders at Tak Bai and Kru Se.
On the anticipated visit to the tambon Sungai Padi in the Sungai Padi area, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and Mr. Phumtham are expected to accompany Thaksin.
Thanathip Phromchuean, the kamnan of the city, posted an offer on his Instagram on Tuesday night to welcome Thaksin and the two officials at Wat Prachum Chonthara on Sunday night.
Mr Thanathip said Thaksin had meet Phra Thamwatchara Chariyachan, the temple’s priest, and some native people.
Mr. Phumtham refrained from commenting on rumors that Thaksin’s visit’s input will be included in a new draft created by the National Security Council ( NSC ) as a strategic plan for resolving the southern unrest. The draft is currently being revised as per instructions from the government.
Mr. Phumtham claimed that revisions have been continuing for a while and that he has spoken with senior Fifth Army officers from the local army’s ahead command in the deep south over the past several days.
He stated that military leaders will have more in-depth discussions about the proposed southern border security methods.
He claimed that the NSC’s new strategic plan may be revised and that information from the discussions may be taken into account.
According to Mr Phumtham, the debate may be conducted in little, close organizations to encourage the rank and file to give information.
In a conference with representatives from the Internal Security Operations Command’s Region 4 Forward Command in Pattani on Monday, Mr. Phumtham stated that the government’s new strategy may incorporate King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s “understanding, commitment, and development” idea.