Militants surrender because of POC : Yala's deputy governor

"The idea is to make Peace Outreach Centre comprehensive in terms of approach. We are not only granting amnesty but we are ensuring their personal safety and job, financial security for the former insurgents," Gissada said.

POC was an initiative from the provincial authority. Gissada expressed hope that POC would be adopted in other provinces.

Gissada said three of the 80 surrendered militants were at the rank of cell leader at the operation level in Yala's Yaha district.

 He said the militants had informed the authorities that they were fighting a war that didn't seem to have an end game.

Nearly 3,000 people have been killed due to violence in the Malayspeaking deep South since January 2004. While human rights groups have documented a significant number of alleged extrajudicial killings, authorities blamed a new generation of militants for the violence in the deep South.

Gissada said the 80 surrendered individuals were member of a new generation of militants that are organised in cells, or group of cells, with capability to coordinate attacks across the provincial line.