Thai PM makes his first visit to insurgency-hit south
Posted: 10 May 2008 1559 hrs

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YALA, Thailand : Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej visited Thailand's insurgency-hit southern provinces Saturday for the first time since he took office more than three months ago.

Samak, who is also defence minister, accompanied army commander Anupong Paojinda and national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan to Yala, one of three mainly Muslim provinces hit by a bloody separatist rebellion.

The premier, who hosts a popular television cooking show, said he would prepare a meal of basil chicken for about 30 soldiers to boost their morale.

"It's my duty to visit this area," he told villagers, who turned out to welcome him, and reporters.

"I hope that the militants will realise that Thailand's government has implemented a policy of non-violence toward them, and that this shows our sincerity in wanting to achieve peace," he said.

Samak was also due to visit a housing estate built for people affected by the four years of unrest, which has left more than 3,000 dead, before to returning to Bangkok later in the day.

- AFP/vm