Why Mae Larn was the first district to do away with emergency rule?

Ever since the government decided to lift emergency decree in Mae Larn district of Pattani province, people have started questioning why, out of dozens of districts in the three southernmost provinces, Mae Larn was specifically chosen.

The lifting of the emergency decree imposed for five and a half years in the far South, including Mae Larn district, should be welcome by residents in the district.  Surprisingly, they did not welcome the move.  But instead, they saw it as a bad sign.

With Mae Larn district suddenly emerged into public spotlight, the Isra news desk took the opportunity to present an overview of the district and also to gauge the viewpoints of the people in the district about the lifting of the emergency rule.

Mae Larn district used to be a tambon in Kok Pho district of Pattani.  On April 2, 1989, it was upgraded into a sub-district and eventually six years afterward into a district.  It is made up of three tambons; Mae Larn, Muang Tia and Pa Rai.

Mae Larn district is located on the southern tip of Pattani bordering Muang district of Yala, Nong Chik district of Pattani to the north, Yarang district, also of Pattani, to the east and Kok Pho district of the west.  70 percent of the population are Muslims and the rest and Buddhists.  Most of the people are engaged in para rubber and tropical fruits cultivation with the minority involved in rice farming and animal raising.

Mae Larn used to be called dusty district because most of the roads were laterite roads.  Surrounded by bigger districts, Mae Larn was once a closed town, peaceful and rarely known outside the province until the completion of Highway No 418 linking Pattani and Yala which opened up the district to the outside world.

Deputy Interior Minister Thavorn Sienniam explained that Mae Larn was chosen as the first district where emergency rule was lifted because it has registered the lowest rate of security-related violent incidents.

Sharing Mr Thavoen’s view was Pol Col Kamthorn Chanthee, the police chief of Mae Larn district.  He said that most of the violent incidents that took place in the district were perpetrated by outsiders and not by the locals.

He, however, said that the lifting of emergency decree did not make any significant difference with the keeping of the decree as the emergency law only empowers authorities to detain a suspect for questioning for a maximum of 30 days.

As for the police in the district, the police colonel said that it would be business as usual.

A veteran security officer with many years of experience in Mae Larn district however said that the impression that the district was peaceful with comparatively low rate of violent incidents might be misleading.

Because most of the territory in the district are covered with fruit orchards and rubber plantations, he noted that the wooded terrain was ideal as a safe haven for Islamic militants to plot their terror activities and to seek shelter.  

The officer disclosed that militants in Nong Chik, Kok Pho and Yarang districts had reportedly fled to Mae Larn to seek temporary shelter after having carried out terror activities in those districts.

Mrs Valai Sangchai, head of Mae Larn Tambon Administration Organisation, said she found the lifting of emergency rule in Mae Larn a bad news.  She said she was afraid that militants in the other districts would take advantage of the lifting of the emergency decree to take refuge in Mae Larn.

Since the local people have been used to the decree and have carried on with their lives as usual, Mrs Valai said if the decree was to be lifted at all, it must be lifted throughout the region, not just in one district.

The TAO chief went on to say that if she had a chance to meet with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva she would like to ask him why a small district like Mae Larn was chosen to be the first district to do away with the emergency decree and why not Betong district of Yala which should be more ideal.

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Caption : Crossroad from Highway No 418 to Mae Larn district of Pattani province