Thailand's junta chief vowed Monday to reboot the flagging economy of the kingdom's poor and rebel-hit south, including by making the Muslim-majority region a hub for halal produce.
Thailand's southernmost provinces have been wracked by violence since 2004 that has left over 6,500 people dead and eviscerated the economy which depends heavily on agriculture.
But the near-daily shootings and bombings make few international headlines, while Bangkok is accused of ignoring the region's plight.
Prayut Chan-O-Cha's military government, which came to power in a 2014 coup, has failed to revive peace talks with the rebels.
On Monday he turned his focus to the economy in one of Thailand's poorest regions vowing to drive investment despite the ongoing violence.
"It is time to bring good economic activity here. I will do everything for this area," Prayut said during a rare visit to Narathiwat, one of the four insurgency-wracked states bordering Malaysia.
"The government will support every idea, particularly the halal food business so that Thailand can become number one" in Southeast Asia, he added.
Thailand is the world's 13th largest halal producers, according to government figures from 2015, but the sector is largely based outside of the strife-torn "Deep South".
Prayut's administration has approved plans to inject the industry with cash in bid to turn Thailand into one of the top five largest exporters of halal products and services.
The southern rebels are fighting for greater autonomy from majority-Buddhist Thailand, which they accuse of suppressing their distinct Muslim-Malay culture.
Rights groups say soldiers' history of heavy-handed raids, extrajudicial killings, torture and other abuses in the region have sewed deep mistrust of the military among locals.
The area is blanketed by troops and volunteer rangers, who are granted a long leash to arrest and detain suspects under the emergency laws that have governed the far south for the past decade.
"Do not think the government is untrustworthy," Prayut said in his speech Monday. "We will listen to people's voices in this area, please trust each other."
During his visit gunmen shot and killed a defence volunteer and wounded a village chief in neighbouring Yala province, police said.
AFP
Mon Jul 25 2016
Thailand's Prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha waves before a family photo session during the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator on July 16, 2016. - AFP Photo/Wang Zhao
Setiausaha Agung PBB desak gencatan senjata dikuatkuasa di Gaza
Kenyataan ini dibuat ketika pusingan baharu rundingan tidak langsung dijadual berlangsung di Kaherah, Mesir.
ICC minta henti ancaman ke atas kakitangannya
ICC mengeluarkan kenyataan meminta tindakan mengancam kakitangannya berkaitan perkembangan perang di Gaza dihentikan segera
Setiausaha Agung PBB desak gencatan senjata dikuatkuasakan di Gaza
Setiausaha Agung PBB, ulangi desakan supaya Israel dan Hamas mencapai perjanjian gencatan senjata di Gaza
164 PAWE aktif di seluruh negara - Nancy
Sebanyak 164 Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas (PAWE) yang aktif di seluruh negara setakat ini, kata Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Khilaf dalam kalangan ulama adalah 'rahmat' jika dikawal dan dijaga
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyifatkan bahawa perbezaan pendapat atau khilaf dalam kalangan ulama boleh menjadi satu 'rahmat' dan membawa kebaikan sekiranya ia dikawal dan dijaga dengan baik
PM yakin kerajaan mampu laksana kenaikan gaji penjawat awam
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memberi jaminan bahawa peningkatan gaji penjawat awam mulai Disember tahun ini mampu dilaksana menerusi kawalan pengurusan kewangan kerajaan
Onn Hafiz harap ramai anak Johor di perantauan pulang sumbang bakti
Pelbagai usaha sedang giat dijalankan pihak kerajaan negeri bagi menarik minat anak jati Johor di perantauan itu.
Rakyat perlu kuasai AI untuk tentukan sendiri nilai moral, budaya dalam teknologi itu - PM
Jika AI tidak dikuasai, nilai dan moral dalam teknologi itu akan ditentukan oleh pihak-pihak yang menguasainya terutama dari barat.
Piala Thomas: Taiwan lakar kejutan singkir Denmark untuk mara ke separuh akhir
Kejayaan sensasi itu menyaksikan Taiwan berdepan Indonesia dan Malaysia menentang China di pentas separuh akhir pada jam 5 petang hari ini.
Gaji penjawat awam boleh dinaikkan dengan kawalan pengurusan kewangan - PM
Ketegasan dalam menguruskan kewangan juga mampu untuk memberikan lebih banyak manfaat serta barakah selepas ini kepada kumpulan terbabit.