[SOUTH-01] Permanent Peace Hotline 1880: Channel for Locals to Voice Their Problems [SOUTH-02] Amphoe Mae Lan : the First Area without Emergency Decree [SOUTH-03] Arts and Culture of Southern Border Provinces: Bridge to Unity Among All Thais [SOUTH-04] Buddhist Monks Protecting the South Project: Religious effort for a better life of the locals [SOUTH-05] Local People’s Land Possession in Budo-Sungai Padi National Park [SOUTH-06] Culture for Conflict Resolution [SOUTH-07] Cup Lump Rubber: Alternative Crop for Southern Rubber Farmers [SOUTH-08] Fatoni Declaration [SOUTH-09] Fight Against Narcotic Drugs in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-10] Assistance for Southern People Affected By Floods [SOUTH-11] Halal Development with Cluster System [SOUTH-12] Her Majesty the Queen’s Contribution for the Deep South [SOUTH-13] Kaedilan Center and Community Justice in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-14] Kolek Boat: Symbol Way of Life in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-15] Promotion of Longkong in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-16] Mali: Use of Literature for Peace and Unity in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-17] Nurses to Alleviate Southernmost Provinces [SOUTH-18] Pattani Brand: Pattani’s Use of Branding to Stimulate Local Economy [SOUTH-19] Pattani Floating Market Project [SOUTH-20] Pattani Mall: 1st Comprehensive Shopping Mall in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-21] Peace Walk for Peaceful Pattani: From Salaya to Pattani [SOUTH-22] Vocational Training for Southern People by Phra Dabos School [SOUTH-23] Project to Develop Quality of Life in Village Level in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-24] Religious Cooperation for Peace in Southern Border Provinces [SOUTH-25] Southern NGO Workers’ Savings Group [SOUTH-26] Scholarships for Students in Southern Most Provinces [SOUTH-27] Section 21 of the Internal Security Act from Point of View of Civilians and Govt. [SOUTH-28] Southern Border Tourism Fair [SOUTH-29] Women Affected by Southern Unrest Helping One Another [SOUTH-30] Special Local Administration Model: A Solution to the Southern Unrest? [SOUTH-31] Spirit of Southern Border Doctors [SOUTH-32] Sport Promotion for Peace in Deep South [SOUTH-33] Tarotao National Park [SOUTH-34] Thailand as a Muslim Fashion Hub [SOUTH-35] Thai-Malay Bilingual Project [SOUTH-36] Thai-Malaysian Border Development [SOUTH-37] Thaksin Ratchaniwet Palace [SOUTH-38] “Understanding”, “Access” and “Development”: Ways to Solve Violence in the Deep South [SOUTH-39] Village Banks: Financial Assistance for People in Deep South [SOUTH-40] Volunteer Spirit Spreading All over Southernmost Provinces

Permanent Peace Hotline 1880: Channel for Locals to Voice Their Problems

          Hotline is another means the government uses to receive problems encountered by the general public. In the southern border provinces of Thailand where the problem of unrest has lingered for longer than six years, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) has established the “Permanent Peace Hotline 1880” and for the local residents to voice their complaints, concerns and information useful for the government’s efforts to quell unrest and violent acts in the region.

          The free hotline has been used for many purposes. In November 2010, the Ministry of Interior used it to receive requests for assistance from the locals affected by inundation in Songkhla province. The affected people also contacted the hotline to ask for information about the government’s compensation for them, especially the compensation of 5,000 baht allocated for each of the residents.

          Deputy Minister of Interior Thaworn Senniam once remarked during his radio show on Radio Thailand Songkhla that the government was ready to provide assistance for the affected people in terms of public health, habitation and vocation for a better quality of life and happy living. The minister assured the affected people of effective assistance and compensation and encouraged them to inform the government of their problems and needs via the hotline 1880 around the clock.

          In addition, the SBPAC has used the Permanent Peace Hotline 1880 to facilitate Thai Muslims participating in Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Relatives of the pilgrims can send their questions and messages to the pilgrims through the hotline. The SBPAC has also operated a special center to welcome the pilgrims back after the Hajj period ended.

          SBPAC Director Panu Uthairat said the center underlined the importance of Hajj and therefore cooperated with government and private organizations in arranging channels of communication for the Thai Muslims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. One of the channels was the Permanent Peaceful Hotline 1880 supervised by the center’s staff directly coordinating Hajj affairs from Saudi Arabia. The director said there was also a radio program called “Hajj Relations” broadcast on Radio Thailand stations in seven lower southern provinces everyday during the Hajj period from 11.00 – 12.00 hrs.

          Hotline is an effective channel of communication between the government and the southern border people as long as the government takes actions on the callers’ complaints, concerns and requests. Public relations activities to promote the Permanent Peace Hotline and its work are needed to foster the public’s trust and confidence in it.

         

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