Gov't not to issue amnesty law for suspected insurgents in S. Thailand

It is impossible for the Thai government to issue an amnesty law for suspected insurgents in Thailand's deep South, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Wednesday.

The suspected militants in the country's deep South killed innocent local people so they must be punished, Thai News Agency quoted Suthep as saying.

Enforcing the amnesty law for the suspected insurgents was not the new issue since in the past there was talk concerning this law, but it was not successful, Suthep said.

Moreover, the amnesty law is not the right principle to help those who killed the innocent southernmost victims, Suthep explained.

Suthep, who is in charge of the security affairs, said the government will not waste its time on this issue.

The government will instead attempt to improve security for the southernmost people, including their living standard, the deputy prime minister said.

Thailand's deep South comprises mainly the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwas, and some four districts of Song-kla province.

Over 3,500 people have been killed by the daily violence attack by the suspected separatists since January 2004.

Source: Xinhua