The prime minister has cancelled today’s planned visit to the southern border province of Pattani due to heavy rain.
The province was initially to be the final stop in her first official visit to the three southernmost provinces since taking office, which included Narathiwat and Yala.
Authorities had tightened security for her visit, following a recent series of violent incidents in the region. Police and soldiers were seen setting up barriers and checkpoints, to screen people entering and exiting venues designated for meetings chaired by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The prime minister travelled to Narathiwat by air, accompanied by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and National Police Chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet.
In Narathiwat, the premier attended a debt relief fair at Princess of Naradhiwas University and received a briefing on the progress of southern border development projects.
These included a parallel bridge over the Golok River, connecting Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat, and the dual-track railway project linking Hat Yai in Songkhla to Sungai Kolok.
In the afternoon, she travelled to Yala before returning to Bangkok. The prime minister was seen practicing some Malay and Yawi phrases, languages commonly spoken in the provinces, as she boarded the aircraft.
