Paramilitary rangers removed from bases following attack on villagers’ truck

BANGKOK, January 31 (TNA) - Commanding General of Thailand's 4th Army Area Command Lieutenant General Udomchai Thammasarorat, who supervises security in the country's southern region, ordered Tuesday an immediate removal of all paramilitary rangers numbering nearly 200 from an area where some of them recently killed four villagers and injured others on a pick-up truck. The withdrawal and replacement of forces order targeted the 4302 and the 4306 paramilitary ranger bases in Baan Nam Dam area of Nongjik District of Pattani Province. Earlier, the 4th army area commander said he regretted the loss and would take his responsibility for the mistake, insisting, however, that his soldiers always observed laws and human rights, and that justice will be served to restore order. The 4th army area commander told reporters that he will soon meet relatives of affected villagers, community leaders and local paramilitary rangers to discuss and analyze the incident, assuring that the government will compensate damaged parties. In nearby Narathiwat Province, local soldiers are training 70 village defence volunteers to use and maintain shotguns to boost villagers’ self-defence capabilities against insurgency. The training is also aimed at preventing insurgents from citing the killing of four villagers in Nongjik to prompt local people to oppose government officials. (TNA)