NSC chief says BRN must curtail attacks

Concerns over a wave of attacks in the far South in the past month will be raised during next week's meeting with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) in Kuala Lumpur.

The government delegation will ask BRN representatives on Monday how they intend to prevent more attacks, said National Security Council secretary-general Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut, who leads the Thai side in the talks.

He said the BRN, the first insurgent group to join the peace talks, will have to influence other groups that disagree with the dialogue.

Soldiers carry coffins draped with national flags containing the bodies of three naval officers to a transport plane during a ceremony in Narathiwat Tuesday. The three servicemen were killed in a bomb blast at a naval base in Narathiwat on Monday. (AP photo)

The NSC chief admitted that anti-peace talks banners raised across Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat show there is division among the insurgents.

The banners, written in Malay, read: "Peace will not occur if talks are not held with the real owners."

However, Lt Gen Paradorn said the persistent violence is not solely driven by the ongoing peace talks process. Drug traffickers are also involved, he said.

He downplayed speculation that some insurgent groups are not happy with the Wadah political group's engagement in southern security affairs. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has appointed core members of the Wadah group as advisers on security operations.

Lt Gen Paradorn said the Wadah group's experience could help in tackling the insurgency.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Tuesday the peace process is necessary and time is needed to build trust.

"We have no other choice," she said. "We will have to endure violence longer if there are no talks.

"The dialogue will at least help authorities tackle the problem."

Ms Yingluck said she has ordered state agencies to step up their efforts in handling the situation.

Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha said security in the region should improve after 1,700 specially trained police are deployed next month.

The security specialists are needed to handle other "complications" in the region such as drug trafficking, Gen Prayuth said.

Their deployment is part of the strategic plan to reduce violence in the region.

Gen Prayuth plans to travel to the region tomorrow, after cancelling a planned trip to Russia.