As a team including former chiefs of the Fourth Army Region, who are familiar with the issue, they will be able to tackle the unrest in the deep South well, Prawit said.

He also added that Udomdej would continue with his duties at the Defence Ministry as he would not be required to be in the deep South at all times.

Prawit said he hoped this special team, with Deputy Education Minister General Surachet Chaiwong as vice chairman, would help with the ongoing Malaysia-facilitated peace dialogue with separatists. General Aksara Kerdphol, who led the Thai negotiating team, is also a member of this “front command Cabinet”.

In response to criticism that the team comprised mostly military officers rather than civilians, Prawit reasoned that these military men knew the issue better due to past experience. He also said he did not think this team would require a lot of funding.

Meanwhile, Udomdej said he was ready for the new job and would visit the restive region in a couple of days. He said that he and his team would try to achieve the objectives set by the supervisors.

Udomdej added that the Committee to Mobilise Policy and Strategy to Solve Problems in the Southern Border Provinces had already created seven working plans, including the security and peace-promotion plans, for the “front command Cabinet” and related ministries to cover.

Each would have a clear framework for action and be able to meet the expectations of the prime minister, defence minister and the public, he said.

“I will try to be in the region as much as I can, while maintaining my current duties at the Defence Ministry. I will do the best I can, and confirm that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy General Prawit are determined to solve the problem.” Udomdej said.

“I don’t think the ‘front command Cabinet’s’ work will go against the work being done by the Internal Security Operations Command, Region 4 Forward Command or the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre … everything will be all right,” he added.

Udomdej later told The Nation that the special team would have its first meeting tomorrow at the Defence Ministry head office to discuss the work guidelines. He also said that initially he would use a well-prepared space within the Somdet Phra Suriyothai Military Camp in Pattani as the team’s office.

Udomdej said after returning from a meeting in Singapore, he would bring the team members to the deep South next week.