The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) will see its role limited to that of a regulator of development policies implemented in the far South as operational works will be carried out by various ministries, according to the National Security Council (NSC).
The reduction of the centre's role was announced at the meeting of the steering committee for solving problems in the far South held at Government House yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.
NSC secretary-general Wallop Raksanoh said the committee meeting was informed of several important issues including the role reduction as well as the fiscal discipline associated with state budget spending in such projects in the restive region.
Gen Wallop said the SBPAC will step aside to let the ministries and related agencies do their jobs in operating the development projects to help tackle work and budgetary overlaps.
He added the SBPAC has limited personnel, which makes it necessary to delegate tasks.
Monday's meeting discussed measures to deal with problems from acquiring additional land for expanding and increasing efficiency of the Buketa border checkpoint in Narathiwat. The improvement is needed at the checkpoint to better facilitate cross-border trade and tourism with Malaysia.
The meeting also approved the project to promote the intercultural education of people in the far South, which can help bring local residents closer together and allay mistrust fueling unrest, officials said.
Gen Wallop said a budget would also be granted for buying new patrol boats for border security surveillance.
He added that vocational training is also under way as part of the government-initiated Pracharat (Citizen and State) campaign to offer opportunities for youths to learn and acquire employment skills.
Gen Prawit, as chair of Monday's meeting, said the disbursements and other spending related to state budgets for developmental programmes must comply with the budgetary rules set out by the fiscal discipline law.
The spending must be above board and able to be monitored effectively for the sake of transparency, according to the deputy premier.
Meanwhile, Gen Wallop said security has shown a positive outlook in Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat after the district was last week removed from the areas covered by the emergency decree.
The improved security situation owes partly to greater cooperation from local people in tipping off the authorities about insurgent-related violence.
