The government has ordered a revision of its strategy designed in the Deep South, which could lead to the lifting of the state of emergency and troop reductions in the restive region by 2027, according to well-informed security sources.
National Security Council Secretary General Chatchai Bangchuad has been assigned, by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, to take charge of drawing up the new strategy, which will emphasise peace-focused dialogue with all insurgent groups, as well as the Barisan Revolusi Nasionale (BRN), an umbrella organisation comprising several insurgent groups.
The revision will also include employment promotion and development, political restructuring, a complete lifting of the state of emergency in the provinces and a reduction in security force numbers.
According to the sources, there are about 40 insurgent leaders, about 100 commanding officers, about 3,000 insurgents and about 10,000 united front members. Additionally, it is believed that the insurgent groups have a combined network of about 100,000 supporters.
The sources said it has been discovered that many personnel, recruited by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, have never actually been based in the region, but are entitled to receive an additional risk stipend, resulting in massive budgetary waste each year.
Defence Minister Phumtham has scheduled a meeting with all relevant agencies on January 30, to discuss the unrest in the Deep South and transnational crimes, such as human and drugs trafficking as well as call centres.
