Democrat's deputy advisor chief Banyat Bantathan said a leader of embattled country should go to provinces in trouble to give encouragement and supports to officials and local people.

"However Thaksin refused to go down to visit the southern provinces which have been full of daily violence. He instead went shopping at Siam Paragon during the weekend," said Banyat who was former Democrat Party leader.

It has been quite a long time that Thaksin did not visit the south. He recently cancelled some schedules including visiting flooding areas in the north following alleged assassination plot on him last week. He instead went to play golf and went shopping.

Following simultaneous attacks on 22 banks in Yala last week, Thaksin said Army Commander in Chief Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin would take responsibility in solving the problems. He suggested Sonthi to visit the south every week to solve the southern violence problems.

Sonthi has floated an idea to hold talks with the separatists in a bid to solve the southern problems.

Banyat said he supported the idea but the talks should not be an informal one. "In fact, our officials have been in contact with the insurgents for quite some time. But they should not be regarded as talks or negotiation. It is good that we listened to different ideas. I agree with Gen Sonthi's ideas regarding the talks, but they should not be formal ones," Banyat said.

"I sympatised with Gen Sonthi that all he is blamed for the southern violence although the problems have been happened for quite some times. He was just assigned to take full responsibility on the south and has to be blamed for what happened in the south," he added.

The Nation