Thai PM, army chief visit restive South

BANGKOK - Accompanied by the Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday headed to the far southern province of Pattani to follow up on southern violence.

The prime minister is scheduled to meet with the public as well as local religious and community leaders. In addition, she will hear a briefing on southern violence security operations and the progress of implementation of provincial development policies.

The government then could adjust its policies and strategies in response to the region's problems, she added.

Over 11,000 violent incidents have happened in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since the insurgency resurgence in January 2004. Altogether over 5,000 people, mostly villagers, have been killed in violent incidents instigated by suspected secessionists in these Muslim-dominant provinces which were once independent sultanate of Pattani before being annexed by predominantly Buddhist state in 1909.