BANGKOK, Thailand – The National Security Council (NSC) will begin evaluating security Wednesday (July 10th) in three Deep South provinces – Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani – to determine if violence has declined since June 13th, when negotiators representing the militant Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) agreed to a reduction, local media reported.

NSC chief Paradorn Pattanathabut told reporters reduced violence was a condition of ongoing peace talks and that the evaluations are scheduled to coincide with the start of Ramadan, MCOT Online reported.

If violence were to occur, he continued, investigations would be conducted promptly and completed within 48 hours to ascertain which group is responsible, The Nation reported.

Paradorn said security measures imposed during Ramadan would be adjusted in accordance with the concerns of local residents, and that authorities would follow the recommendations of the Chularatchamontri, the spiritual leader of Thailand's Muslims.

In time for Ramadan, 54 prisoners serving sentences for security-related offences were moved to prisons closer to their homes and families, The Bangkok Post reported. The transfers were confirmed by officials at the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.