More budgets and new strategies for the deep South
The budget for 2013 fiscal year for the development of the deep South and to resolve unrest problem in the restive region has been increased by about 25 percent from 16.2 billion baht to 20.7 billion baht.
The new budget for the deep South is part of the 2.4 trillion baht national budget bill scheduled to be debated in the parliament in the fourth week of May.
A breakdown of the budget allocations in accordance with ministries and agencies are as follows:
- the Internal Security Operations Command, 6,750 million baht compared to 6,100 million baht for the current fiscal year;
- the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, 2,265.9 million baht compared to 1,422 million baht for the current fiscal year;
- the Army, 830.7 million baht against this year’s 1,502 million baht;
- the Navy, 759.5 million baht against this year’s 690 million baht;
- the Air Force, 262.6 million baht against this year’s 204 million baht;
- the National Police Office, 1,798.8 million baht against this year’s 1,521 million baht;
- the Interior Ministry, 2,067.5 million baht (261 million baht for the Provincial Administration Department, 723 million baht for Town and Planning Department and 1,083.5 million baht for Local Administration Promotion Department);
- the Public Health Ministry, 428 million baht;
- the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, 257.3 million baht;
- the Industry Ministry, 83 million baht;
- the Justice Ministry, 61.5 million baht;
- the Ministry of Labour, 86.6 million baht;
- the Culture Ministry, 80 million baht.
The government has recently appointed Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa as head of a committee to implement policies and strategies to resolve the problems in the deep South.
The first meeting of the committee which comprises representatives from 17 ministries and 66 agencies which have a role in the far South took place at the Government House on May 17. The meeting agreed to set 29 objectives and five guidelines for the implementation of the policies and strategies.
The five guidelines are: all state agencies must follow the nine-point operational plan of the government; a working group responsible for works in the deep South must be set up in all ministries; a report about the progress of works must be given to the prime minister every three months by General Yutthasak’s panel; and a secretariat office for General Yutthasak’s panel must be established.
The followings are some of the 29 strategic targets or objectives set by ISOC and SBPAC: All important economic areas and public places must be safe from violence of serious proportion such as bombings; suspects on security charges must have legal protection; public participation in development projects and in community problems; public should have the right to access to information about situation in the region; the peace process must involve the separatists and their safety must be guaranteed; people should have access to efficient health care; and people in risk areas should have the right to utilize land or natural resources in order to make a living.