Unity key, say local leaders

Unity key, say local leaders
Published: 11/05/2012 at 01:40 AM



Pattani local leaders and youths have called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to better coordinate the work of state agencies in the far South.

Unity is needed among local government authorities to better tackle the southern unrest, Koleeyoh Halee, a local leader from Nong Chik district of Pattani, said.

"These days, each agency only focuses on its own job and fails to cooperate with other agencies.

"This is the main reason why the government cannot solve the southern violence," she said.

Ms Koleeyoh was speaking after taking some 90 Pattani youths to meet the prime minister at Government House yesterday.

Asked if residents were satisfied with the Yingluck government's handling of the southern violence, Ms Koleeyoh said the government could do more.

"The important thing is that the government must not use money to solve the [southern] problems," she said.

Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha told the youth representatives at Army Headquarters yesterday that soldiers were treating people of all religions equally.

Gen Prayuth also apologised for any mistake that soldiers might make in the far South and asked people to trust them.

In other news, students from King Prajadhipok Institute will recommend the government tailor public services so they are in keeping with residents' lifestyles and culture.

Students enrolling in the "peaceful society" course at the KPI recently surveyed southern residents and found that improving public services in the far South would help end the unrest.

"The revamp of public services including those of schools, hospitals and police stations to come into line with residents' identities will help ease the violence," Gen Ekachai Srivilas, director of the institute's Office of Peace and Governance, said. Students will present the findings in Bangkok on Monday, when Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa will also discuss problems in the far South.

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