BANGKOK, Thailand – The Thai cabinet on Tuesday (December 17th) extended a state of emergency in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces because of ongoing violence there, local media reported.

The emergency law now will be in effect through March 19th, 2014, MCOT Online said, citing caretaker Deputy Defence Minister Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapa.

A move to lift the emergency decree in Yala's Kabang was not considered because Parliament has been dissolved, MCOT said. Kabang has been deemed safe from insurgent activities, according to the Bangkok Post.

Separately, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces have stepped up security measures to ensure public safety during the New Year season, which usually brings many tourists from Singapore and Malaysia.

In Narathiwat, meanwhile, authorities handed out Bt. 97.4m ($3m) in compensation to 974 victims of unrest in the province, including 855 who were killed and 119 badly injured, from January 2004 to September 2012, The Nation reported.

Each of the victims' families received Bt 100,000 ($3,113) in a ceremony at city hall.