ID :
182972
Wed, 05/18/2011 - 15:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/182972
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Southern insurgents want to draw international attention, says Thai army chief
BANGKOK, May 18 (TNA) - The Thai Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has insisted that security authorities were unified in tackling insurgency in Thailand’s far South, and pointed out that insurgents were aiming to draw international attention to themselves, which would make it more difficult for authorities to solve security issues.
Gen Prayuth said on Wednesday that government officers already knew who planted a recent bomb that killed two Buddhist monks and injured soldiers, saying that the bombers were brainwashed and could not be remedied. He insisted however, that soldiers and the government have worked well together to handle security problems and that proactive measures in place will lead to the arrests of the insurgents.
Gen Prayuth added security authorities have coordinating with Malaysia to contain insurgency operations on the Budo mountain range, but admitted it was difficult to secure all areas and protect monks, teachers, schools and the venues of locals’ functions because not all local people were supporting the government.
About 90% of local people are cooperating with the government, he said, but insurgents are trying to woo local support by frightening them and making the government look illegitimate and unreliable.
The army chief noted that insurgents wanted violent incidents to take place as soon as the school term starts, but that security forces have been deployed to deflect such efforts.
On a note, Gen Prayuth said the Thai government had to prevent the regional insurgency from drawing international attention or it would be more difficult to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said he has ordered tight security for teachers in three southern border provinces, but admitted that monks and teachers have become vulnerable to insurgency attacks. He suggested teachers travel in groups and stated that he will visit the far South on May 20 to listen to the opinions and proposals of local teachers. (TNA)
Gen Prayuth said on Wednesday that government officers already knew who planted a recent bomb that killed two Buddhist monks and injured soldiers, saying that the bombers were brainwashed and could not be remedied. He insisted however, that soldiers and the government have worked well together to handle security problems and that proactive measures in place will lead to the arrests of the insurgents.
Gen Prayuth added security authorities have coordinating with Malaysia to contain insurgency operations on the Budo mountain range, but admitted it was difficult to secure all areas and protect monks, teachers, schools and the venues of locals’ functions because not all local people were supporting the government.
About 90% of local people are cooperating with the government, he said, but insurgents are trying to woo local support by frightening them and making the government look illegitimate and unreliable.
The army chief noted that insurgents wanted violent incidents to take place as soon as the school term starts, but that security forces have been deployed to deflect such efforts.
On a note, Gen Prayuth said the Thai government had to prevent the regional insurgency from drawing international attention or it would be more difficult to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said he has ordered tight security for teachers in three southern border provinces, but admitted that monks and teachers have become vulnerable to insurgency attacks. He suggested teachers travel in groups and stated that he will visit the far South on May 20 to listen to the opinions and proposals of local teachers. (TNA)
