Abhisit: PT's special zone vote bait

The Pheu Thai Party's proposal to make the three troubled southern border provinces a special administrative zone is purely intended to win votes, and is not a realistic solution to the problem, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

Mr Abhisit was commenting on an interview by Yingluck Shinawatra, the No 1 Pheu Thai list candidate, who said  her party would turn the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat into a special administration zone.
He said what Ms Yingluck said was not being realistic.
The Democrat Party's policy is to give more power to local administrations - municipalities, tambon and provincial administration organisations (TOA and POA).
"If a special administration is set up, like Pattaya City, the TOAs or POAs would be gone.
"I assume that the special administration (mentioned by Pheu Thai) would be based in Pattani.  If this is true, the people in Betong and Sungai Kolok would come under Pattani.
"I don't see how this would improve the people's quality of life," Mr Abhisit said.
The prime minister also disagreed to an idea to relocate heavy industries to the three southern border provinces, saying this would only cause more conflict to the area.