Thai leader says he's closing in on militant leaders

Prime Minister Thaksin Shina-watra said yesterday that Thai authorities are close to finding the "masterminds" behind the escalating violence in southern Thailand.

"I will not lose" in the fight against the militants, Thaksin said in his weekly radio address.

Thaksin's assessment came a day after he removed the national police chief and the army commander of the southern provinces for their failure to stop the unrest in the three Muslim-dominated provinces of Thailand, which is predominantly Buddhist.

At least 50 people -- mostly security forces and village officials -- have been killed there in hit-and-run attacks by unidentified gunmen since the torching of 21 schools and the theft of weapons from a military armory on Jan. 4.

"We're close to reaching the masterminds," Thaksin said. Investigations have given the government a better idea of what is going on in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces, he said, without elaborating.

He reiterated that his previously proposed policies to develop the economy, security and education in the provinces will help solve the problems.

The government has blamed Islamic separatists for the attacks. Many locals say the violence has been fueled by the discontentment among the minority Muslims against the Buddhist-majority government. The Muslims complain of being discriminated against in jobs, education and culture.

Thaksin no mention of the removal on Friday of Police General Sant Sarutanond and Region 4 army commander Lieutenant-General Pongsak Ekbanasing, who were reassigned to work in the office of the prime minister.