BANGKOK, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva left Bangkok on Thursday morning to visit the three southernmost provinces to follow up operation of Thai Khemkaeng (Strong Thailand) economic stimulus project and visit security officials who are stationed in the violence prone areas to give them moral support.Thai News agency (TNA) reported that the premier's entourage included Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda.
Abhisit was scheduled to visit projects designed to provide housing and resolve land issues for local residents under Thai Khemkaeng (Strong Thailand) economic stimulus scheme at Narathiwat's Rueso district.
He will present homes to the families of the victims who died or were otherwise severely affected by the insurgent violence in the southern border provinces under the government's remedy scheme.
The premier will also preside at the official handing over of a prayer building at a district school.
Security has been stepped up in Narathiwat, Narathiwat Governor Thanon Wetkornkan on Wednesday said about one thousand combined military, police and provincial administrative personnel are being mobilised to ensure his safety, as well as plainclothes personnel to support the security monitoring.
Intelligence staff were also assigned to gather information, he said.
Abhisit was scheduled to preside the ceremony to officially open road number 418 linking Ban Klong Khud in Pattani's Nong Chik district and Ban Ta Sab in the Yala provincial seat.
> > A bomb exploded near a location where Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is due to open a road in Pattani, wounding one police officer, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.
The two-kilogramme bomb went off at a rest area, 150 metres from the site where the prime minister was scheduled to preside over a ceremony to open a Yala-Pattani highway on 10.30am.
Pol Cpl Chaiyuth Bovornsak, part of the detail providing security at the site, suffered shrapnel wounds above his left eyebrow.
The prime minister, accompanied by deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda, will join a ceremony opening the Highway 418 crossing at the Pattani River, which connects Nong Chik district in Pattani and Yala's provincial seat.
They are to observe progress in the special economic zone projects to develop five southern border provinces and to support villagers to depend on themselves under the sufficient economy philosophy.
Abhisit left Bangkok Thursday morning to visit the three southernmost provinces to follow up operation of Thai Khemkaeng (Strong Thailand) economic stimulus project and visit security officials stationed in the insurgency-affected areas to give them moral support.
The premier visited projects designed to provide housing and resolve land issues for local residents under Thai Khemkaeng (Strong Thailand) economic stimulus scheme at Narathiwat's Rueso district.
The prime minister's trip is his first since his recent visit with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the strife-torn region in early December.
Najib said the Thai government was on the right track and pledged to support Thailand In tackling the violence particularly on exchanges of information, security and intelligence.
The three southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has been rocked by insurgent attacks since 2004, claiming more than 3,700 lives.
-- BERNAMA
