Colonel Pakorn Jantharachota, commander of the 44th Ranger Regiment in Nakhon Si Thammarat, oversees a physical training session for female members who are part of a newly recruited Ranger force that will be stationed in the violence-hit deep South in Jan

In taking a "softer approach" to violence in the deep South, the Army is dispatching 10 companies of women paramilitary Rangers to the region.

The Rangers have been assigned to crowd control and searches of female protesters. Women and children have been used as human shields during past anti-government protests.

Yawi-speaking Muslim Rangers will negotiate with mob leaders during protests and have a psychological-warfare role, too.

The Army is recruiting 30 all-volunteer Ranger companies from residents of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

It believes local people can better handle the situation than outsiders.

Commander Pakorn Jantharachota of the 44th Ranger Regiment said 84 women of seven special squads were now training at Vajiravut camp in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

They will join 10 currently all-male Ranger companies. Another 20 companies will be ready in April.

Training began in October and includes cultural orientation, Islam and local traditions as well as basic rescue operations.

The women Rangers are trained to provide first aid and basic midwifery.

Ranger Natthaphat Khongphuet of Yala promised her father before he was killed by insurgents she would protect the country and local people from violence.

"Now I have a chance to serve like my father did," she added.

Local Pattani Muslim Abdul Rahman Sayada wants to bring peace and unity to the region. "I want everything to return to normal," he said.

More than 1,900 people have lost their lives since violence re-emerged in the deep South in January 2004.

Despite the government's attempt to promote peace and reconciliation, bombings, shootings and arson attacks continue in the region on an almost-daily basis.

Nakharin Chinnawornkomol

The Nation