New lease on life for emergency decree

The government committee handling the emergency situation in the far South yesterday decided to renew the invocation of the emergency decree in the violence-plagued region, except for six districts in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat where the special law will no longer be needed.

The districts where the emergency decree will be lifted are Mae Lan and Mai Kaen districts of Pattani, Betong district of Yala, and Sungai Kolok, Sukhirin and Si Sakhon districts of Narathiwat, said Maj Gen Phatchasak Patirupanon, assistant to the spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

The renewal of the emergency decree in 27 other southern districts was proposed to the committee by the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, said Maj Gen Phatchasak. The decision to renew the decree for the 63rd time in the far South was reached at yesterday’s committee meeting at Government House, chaired by Gen Prawit, said Maj Gen Phatchasak. The renewal takes effect from March 20 to June 19, he said, adding the committee will also send its decision to cabinet.

Although the overall southern unrest situation continues to improve, new forms of violence were detected. Recent intelligence reports pointed to the need to maintain the emergency decree in certain areas, said Maj Gen Phatchasak. Participants also approved Isoc Region 4’s plan to implement economic and social development programmes in the areas of the far South were the emergency decree has been lifted, he said.

Gen Prawit told the meeting that authorities must work harder to gather intelligence and pay close attention to intelligence reports, particularly those on instigators of the violent incidents, said Maj Gen Phatchasak. Gen Prawit also urged soldiers, police and local officials to work more closely on restoring peace to the South, said Maj Gen Phatchasak.

The meeting followed the decision on Wednesday by the Supreme Court to hand the death penalty to six men responsible for a string of bombings and attempted bombings in central Pattani in 2016. Those condemned to death were Ibrohim Yosoh, Amri Lueyoh, Santi Chatharakul, Ayub Paolee, Isamae Tuyong and Noroning Nordeh.

They are among 10 people convicted of charges relating to bombings and attempted bombings in six incidents which occurred in Pattani from June to December 2016. The other four were Masun Salae, Abdulloh Hayee-uma, Hamid Jehma and Rusran Wahayee.