The government is ready to lift the emergency decree in the restive southern border provinces if special laws are enforced to deal with the insurgents, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

Mr Abhisit said the government is considering issuing more security laws.

"All sides will revise the laws and their mechanisms, and the emergency decree will not be automatically extended in the deep South as being done before. The government is not intent to impose laws that do not give fair treatment to all sides," said the premier.

He insisted his administration will not abuse authority.

The prime minister also expressed confidence that the government can end the southern unrest, but refused to give a specific timeframe as it could pressure the performance of officials.

At the same time, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwant said the government is working in the right direction as the number of violent incidents in the three southern border provinces have decreased by more than 50 per cent.

He said a council of relevant cabinet members chaired by the prime minister was set up to help improve the southern situation, and it will not overlap the soldiers' tasks in the South.