Government spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday the administration preferred to employ normal laws through the responsible state agencies, adding that “gradual progress” had been made.

“Use of force or violence is not always the answer in trying to solve certain problems,” he said.

In effect, the spokesman was turning down a call by a network of Buddhist groups in the southern border region for the use of Article 44 in tackling the insurgency-related violence that has continued for well over a decade.

Article 44 empowers Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order, to issue orders in the name of national reform, with power over other branches of government.

Sansern, who is the caretaker head of the Public Relations Department, said the insurgency problem was multi-faceted and had many causes, so the effort to solve it should cover all the aspects involved.

He said many factors contributed to the violence in the deep South, including personal conflicts, illicit drugs, local politics and conflict of interest.

Prayut has called for all sides not to use religion to create conflicts between worshippers of different religions in the southern border province, according to the government spokesman.

“The prime minister is confident that both Buddhist and Muslim residents do not want violence to happen. All the religions teach people to refrain from committing sin. People of both religions have to rely on each other and live together peacefully,” Sansern said.

Meanwhile, Army commander-in-chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart yesterday instructed the Fourth Army Area, which is responsible for southern provinces, to focus on ensuring safety for local residents as well as state officials.

He made his instruction during a visit to Pattani, where he had a meeting with local security authorities from the southern border provinces.

A new wave of violence occurred over the past week, just days after the Thai military and Mara Patani, an umbrella group claiming to represent insurgents, agreed to create a limited “safety zone” in the region, as a trust-building measure.

The sudden spike in violence led to a demonstration by hundreds of local residents in Narathiwat’s Ruso district on Friday.

Four members of a Buddhist family, including an eight-year-old boy, were shot dead on Thursday after suspected militants ambushed their car. A deputy village headman, his wife, son and sister-in-law were killed in the attack. Two other family members were injured.

The ambush provoked outrage from religious leaders and civil society groups, who also took part in Friday’s march. Dozens of local school children also took part, carrying a banner that said, “Stop the shooting” and “Stop the killing”.

Insurgents mostly aim their attacks at security forces, local officials and public school teachers, who are viewed as collaborators with the state. More than 6,800 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the insurgency since it erupted 13 years ago.