การปฏิบัติหน้าที่ของปลัดอำเภอ ในเขตพื้นที่ความขัดแย้ง อำเภอรือเสาะ จังหวัดนราธิวาส

Abstract

This qualitative study “Performance of District Chief Officers in Conflict Zone, Rueso District, Narathiwas Province” aimed to 1) examine the operational processes of the district chief officers, 2) study problems and obstacles affecting the operations of the district chief officers in the conflict zone, Rueso District, Narathiwas Province, and 3) investigate the possible solutions to the problems. 109 participants, chosen from 5 groups of the samples, participated in the interviews. In addition, participatory observation, non- participatory observation, and reviewing related documents and research were used. The data revealed that the district chief officers, who are provincial government officers, had an important roles in coordinating the policies and were a crucial mechanism of the bureaucracy in conveying the intentions of the government to the local people. In addition, the operations of the district chief officers in conflict zone, Rueso District, Narathiwas Province were vital in driving the government policies into practice with the cooperation from the local village headmen, community leaders, religion leaders, police officers, and soldiers from every organizations as well as the local people. This was done under social, cultural, and religious contexts of the local which resulted in the changes of the present bureaucratic systems, which was the conditions caused the conflicts. Furthermore, it was found that although the district chief officers had to work in the unrest environment caused by the past conflicts, wrong policies, and other complication threats, the officers could do their jobs to meet the expectations of the people and focus on the participations of the local people. The data also indicated that the district chief officers were those who put the government policies into practice in the local communities and they could take care of the people, especially improving life quality of the local people. Finally, it was found that apart from the unrest problems, which were the factor affecting the operations of the district chief officers, the complication threats associated with the unrest including drugs and illegal business were another problem. In terms of solutions to the problems, the participants suggested that all government organizations and the government should seriously cooperate in stopping the problems. In addition, the district chief officers and local government organizations must support the local people, reduce the suspicions, and focus on the roles of local leaders in developing the community and public security. Furthermore, the district chief officers, who are the district leaders, must get supports in terms of safety vehicles for local operations with the supports from the Territorial Defense Department. Also, the operations of the district chief officers must emphasize on the improvement of life quality of the local people. Finally, local forces should be supported and the local people should cooperate in keeping the peace in each local community including village security, district security, and village defense. Therefore, it can be suggested that: 1. The operations of the district chief officers and other government officers in the Southern border provinces from every organization must focus mainly on the continuous participation of the local people. 2. The government organizations must drive the policies in the Southern border provinces in terms of development and security. For development, the administrators (districts) should be the main organizations in integrating the government sectors to run the local projects. For security, the local soldiers or police officers, who have better personnel and equipment, should be the main operators. However, both development and security must work simultaneously and seriously from all government sectors including village headmen, community leaders, local people, and religion leaders. 3. Government officers working in Rueso District must understand the history of the conflicts, identity, culture and traditions, language, and life style of the local people. In addition, the officers must not create any more conflict condition in the area.