BANGKOK, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A suspect allegedly taking part in the killing of 15 people in Thailand's restive province of Yala was arrested by police, said government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat on Friday.
Fifteen people at a village defense volunteer base in Yala, were gunned down by assailants last Tuesday.
Narumon said the suspect was arrested as security authorities were identifying several suspects using forensic evidence collected by authorities.
"Despite the vicious attack, it is yet unnecessary to impose a curfew in the far south as curfews may impede operations and affect local businesses," said Narumon, "however, authorities in the far south still need cooperation from local residents to support its security operations."
Meanwhile, responding to the media, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remained tight-lipped in regard to the investigation process, saying that any information he reveals may affect investigation progress.
Prayut only said that the investigations into the November 5 attack is still progressing.
The prime minister said defense volunteers in southern border provinces are necessary, and will switch from stationary to mobile mode.
So instead of stationing at a village post, these defense volunteers will become "mobile," and are given the authority to search into communities for "people of interest," said Prayut.
A decade-old separatist campaign in Thailand's largely ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat has killed nearly 7,000 people since 2004.
