National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliensri left Bangkok for Kuala Lumpur on September 9 for discussion with his Malaysian counterpart on resumption of peace talks with southern separatist groups.

The National Security Council is in favour of peace talks with militant groups in the deep South but is against an autonomous state or a special administration zone for ethnic Muslims.

Security forces in the troubled Deep South have been alerted to keep close watch on the movements of para rubber logs for fear that the separatists may hide improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in hollowed-out logs or may wrap the IEDs with tree barks.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will not interfere in the internal affairs of Thailand and will not support separatism but would prefer to see the emergency rule be lifted in the three southernmost provinces. The above opinion was expressed by special envoy to OIC secretary-general Sayed Kassem El-Masry.

Although retired several years ago as headman of Ban Pa Sri, Tambon Taloh of Pattani’s Yaring district, 70-year old Mr Larb Waewthongrak still kept himself busy helping out helping out his villagers in various odd jobs.