New army commander emphasizes South in first ever policy handout

 

 

BANGKOK, 18th October 2018 (NNT) - The new Royal Thai Army commander has emphasized security in the south in his first policy address, indicating that he plans to travel to the region later this month. 

Royal Thai Army Commander Gen Apirach Kongsompong announced after a policy meeting with army agencies that he will be traveling to the southern region later this month, remarking tha he is familiar with the area and its situation as he previously served in the south.

 

He said distinctions should be drawn between violence from personal conflicts and unrest, as many incidents in the region are the result of crimes as is seen elsewhere as well, pointing out that statistics should better reflect such a reality. He nevertheless stated troops will be told to be more stringent in their operations. 

On narcotics and war weapons, the commander said any army personnel found to have such ties would be severely punished.

 

-- nnt 2018-10-18

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

violence from personal conflicts and unrest, as many incidents in the region are the result of crimes as is seen elsewhere

Throughout the years, I have been told by numerous Thais that the situation down South is a result of sending inactive posts people down there. I have no idea. 

 

Southern Thailand is something, I know nothing about and the news reports are confusing. Can anyone explain what the main problem is?

5 hours ago, webfact said:

New army commander emphasizes South in first ever policy handout

Let it be Bibles, let it be Bibles.

Just outta curiosity - how did the very distinguished Gen. Apirach acquire all those neat looking medals and ribbons? 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

He said distinctions should be drawn between violence from personal conflicts and unrest

Still following the military playbook:

The insurgency is all about criminal thugs and nothing to do with issues of sovereignty, ie., semi-autonomy for the Malay Muslims in the southern provinces.

The military refuses to recognize the insurgency as part of any national agenda item - which has been one of the insurgents' precondition to ensure peace talks continuity.

 

In October 2014 Gen Prayut Prayut cited the southern unrest as a persistent problem that had caused substantial damage on the national economy, especially in the tourism, investment and industrial sectors. Despite much improvement, he insisted that the government had ordered officials to apply more stringency in all areas, ranging from security operations to development work and the creation of understanding. He also asked the media to present news in a way that would help promote confidence in the government’s ability to solve this problem.
thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNPOL5710170010014

 

The military cannot admit to any strategy that recognizes the southern Malay Muslims as conquered people, as colonized by forced integration into Thailand. That might lend international legitimacy to the insurgency. So domestic 'personal conflicts" or 'unrest' it is.

 

 

50 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Still following the military playbook:

The insurgency is all about criminal thugs and nothing to do with issues of sovereignty, ie., semi-autonomy for the Malay Muslims in the southern provinces.

The military refuses to recognize the insurgency as part of any national agenda item - which has been one of the insurgents' precondition to ensure peace talks continuity.

 

In October 2014 Gen Prayut Prayut cited the southern unrest as a persistent problem that had caused substantial damage on the national economy, especially in the tourism, investment and industrial sectors. Despite much improvement, he insisted that the government had ordered officials to apply more stringency in all areas, ranging from security operations to development work and the creation of understanding. He also asked the media to present news in a way that would help promote confidence in the government’s ability to solve this problem.
thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNPOL5710170010014

 

The military cannot admit to any strategy that recognizes the southern Malay Muslims as conquered people, as colonized by forced integration into Thailand. That might lend international legitimacy to the insurgency. So domestic 'personal conflicts" or 'unrest' it is.

 

 

Yep......they do miss the larger picture, if any at all.

3 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Just outta curiosity - how did the very distinguished Gen. Apirach acquire all those neat looking medals and ribbons? 

First in a significant number of NAAFI queues?

13 hours ago, Srikcir said:

In October 2014 Gen Prayut Prayut cited the southern unrest as a persistent problem that had caused substantial damage on the national economy, especially in the tourism, investment and industrial sectors. Despite much improvement, he insisted that the government had ordered officials to apply more stringency in all areas, ranging from security operations to development work and the creation of understanding. He also asked the media to present news in a way that would help promote confidence in the government’s ability to solve this problem.

Four years later....what is the result? What lasting achievements have been made? And what are the ongoing future plans to resolve "problems" in the South? 

 

"He also asked the media to present news in a way that would help promote confidence in the government’s ability to solve this problem." My italics.

And did the media do that? Seems there has been no action against the media therefore, one can only assume that the media did what it was asked (told). Again, therefore, it would appear that the media's attention to this has been misplaced. Let the media (NOT reporters but investigative journalists) tell the truth! 

 

Continual "talking" is not achieving any desirable result, it should be done in conjunction with realistic actions to mitigate or resolve these problems. There has been a long history of "talking" - can this change? It's not looking good.