She will follow up the progress of her initiated projects, notably self-sufficient villages and experimental farms, in the three southernmost provinces, said Colonel Atthaporn Bosuwan.

The Queen will inspect the first projects in Narathiwat's Ban Rotan Batu, where officials have completed 103 out of 150 houses for villagers, he said.

Her visit is earlier than her usual September trip as she is worried about the well-being of residents who are living in fear of violence, said Atthaporn.

A spate of violence has rocked the predominantly Muslim region since the beginning of 2004 and killed more than 1,300 people.

The Queen initiated many projects for residents aimed at improving their economic conditions and security.

The Supreme Command yesterday took a group of journalists from Bangkok to the deep South to visit many royal projects.

The journalists also met prominent Muslim educator Ismail Lutfi Japakiya, rector of Yala Islamic College, who urged the government to follow peaceful measures suggested by the now defunct National Reconciliation Commission (NRC).

The commission, of which the rector was a member, suggested many peaceful measures, including unarmed units, to contain violence.