The army is planning to reinforce its operations in the restive far South by using drones to patrol high-risk areas to replace soldiers who are often targeted for attacks.
The idea has been initiated by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon who said during a recent meeting with the 4th Army that more use of driverless aircraft in military missions is increasingly important as it can reduce the burden on soldiers.
Gen Prawit, also the Defence Minister, insisted human patrols should be carried out only in some necessary cases, the National Security Council secretary-general Thawip Netniyom quoted him as saying.
Drones will not only give the army more patrol options but, in terms of safety, they reduce the chance of soldiers being attacked by insurgent groups.
Incidents of soldiers being killed or injured on patrol have been an issue of concern and prompted the army to adopt a more careful approach to avoid losses.
In May, four soldiers on patrol duty were injured by a roadside bomb while they were riding two motorcycles along a road in Yala's Muang district.
An investigation determined later that attackers had waited until the group of soldiers arrived at the ambush site and then detonated a bomb hidden in a roadside bush.
The incident is part of an insurgency which has become a serious problem since 2004 when 413 guns were stolen from the 4th Development Battalion in Narathiwat's Cho Airong district.
Four soldiers were killed in that incident.
Reflecting on the insurgency over the past 13 years, Gen Thawip said he believed the violence would not become more serious, thanks to both military and non-military intervention.
However, the best way to solve the problem is through an ongoing peace dialogue with Mara Patani, the umbrella organisation of the insurgent groups, he said.
The Thai government insists the country cannot be split, but it is ready to listen to the groups' other demands, Gen Thawip said.
Thai negotiators are planning to hold a further round of talks with Mara Patani representatives.
Among the topics is a proposal to declare safety zones in the insurgency-torn provinces, but agreement on this has not yet been reached, he said.
Meanwhile, national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said he ordered a complete examination of police equipment and weapons in the far South to make sure they are in working order.
Pol Gen Chakthip said he is assessing the suitability of a bomb detection device from the United Kingdom which can detect explosives buried up to three metres underground.
Should it be deemed useful, the police may procure it as the price is not so high, he said.
He said insurgents in restive areas have become more advanced in their bombing campaign.
They now plant the explosives deeper to prevent the authorities detecting them. Existing bomb detecting devices may be unable to detect those explosives.
