An international conference, entitled "Communication, Conflicts and Peace Process: Landscape of Knowledge from Asia and Deep South of Thailand" was held at the Islamic Study College, Prince of Songkhla University, on August 21-22.

The Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) has set up four ad hoc panels to investigate four crime cases in which several Malay Muslims and local teachers were killed or maimed under suspicious circumstances.

The government has set aside a 1.2 billion baht fund to be used to purchase land from people in the three southernmost provinces who want to leave the restive region for fear of their own safety.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimaprakorn met recently with Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta during his visit to Indonesia to participate in the swear-in ceremony of newly-elected President Joko Widodo.

A national legislative assemblyman who was previously actively involved in border coordination with Malaysia has voiced his dissatisfaction with the recent role of Kuala Lumpur in arranging core members of Mara Patani to have an informal meeting with Organisation of Islamic Cooperation secretary Iyad Ameen Madani.