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YALA PROVINCE, Thailand: In Thailand's deep south, an insurgency has claimed over 3,500 lives in the past five years.
The dense forest of Yala province makes a perfect cover for insurgents. And Thai soldiers who patrol vital roads are all too often easy targets.
Sporadic violence is an almost daily occurrence in the deep south. Unfortunately, it is on the rise again after dropping by nearly half last year.
As the insurgency in the south enters its fifth year, there are 8,000 to 9,000 insurgents operating in the southernmost provinces, but what the Thai government is attempting to do is reach out to the villagers and raise their standard of living, in the hopes that they will cooperate to help the government defeat the insurgents.
Recent initiatives spearheaded by the 4th Army Commander seem to have made a difference. It has been as simple as more foot patrols in villages used to seeing the Thai army as the enemy.
Sudaeng, a villager, said: "In the past, we could not live peacefully. We were afraid of the military arresting us. The insurgents have tried to convince (us) to be part of them."
But despite some progress from these efforts, the deep south remains under emergency decree.
Lt Gen Pichet Wisaijorn, Thai 4th Army Regional Commander, said: "Under the decree, suspects are taken into custody. We do not put them in jail, but they are held in designated areas. When they are more familiar with us, they tend to agree to give up more information. It is easier to prevent criminals from committing the same crime again."
Others disagree, saying that under the decree, the Army is able to operate with impunity.
Sunai Phasuk, Human Rights Watch, said: "There has been no progress at all regarding the improvement of justice. There has been no significant progress regarding human rights. There has been no improvement regarding transparency of counter insurgency operations."
Thirty thousand soldiers are stationed in the three southernmost provinces with a combined population of 1.8 million people. And the military undertakes nearly 3,000 operations per day through Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. - CNA/ms
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