Southern Army chief orders tightening of security at border

[webfact]

Southern Army chief orders tightening of security at border

By The Nation

 

Pornsak Poosawat

 

The southern Army chief has ordered the tightening of security along the Thai-Malaysian border after bombers reportedly smuggled explosives across to launch attacks in Bangkok, a spokesman said Thursday.

 

Col Thanawee Suwanrat, deputy spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command for Area 4, said Fourth Army Area commander Lt Gen Pornsak Poosawat gave the order when he visited the Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla’s Sadao district and the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district on Wednesday.

 

Thanawee said Pornsak made the visit to inspect the operations and held meetings with government agencies on security and measures to prevent cross-border activities.

 

The spokesman said the southern Army chief wants to increase efficiency in maintaining security at the border and introduce further measures for preventing smuggling of drugs, contraband and 23 controlled agricultural crops.

 

At the order of the southern Army chief, all government agencies concerned have integrated operations by using manpower and tools to watch over the land and marine borderlines, the spokesman added.

 

He said the southern Army also stepped up intelligence operations in border areas and used patrol units to guard the border at 94 natural points often used by people to sneak across. 

 

Thanawee said the Army chief had ordered the setting up of more road checkpoints to check those who might have sneaked across the border and managed to smuggle contraband or narcotics. 

 

Walk-through x-ray machines have been installed at the two checkpoints, and female rangers are deployed to search women who cross the checkpoints for possible illegal items, the spokesman added.

 

He said the southern Army chief also plans to install fingerprint readers at all border checkpoints as another security measure.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30374805

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-15

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[dabhand]

Good luck with that.

 

During my time working in Kelantan during the 90's a common sight, at the Golok border crossing, were numerous small boats stacked with boxes destined for Thailand. This was in clear sight of the bridge linking Malaysia and Thailand and with the obvious connivance of the two sets of customs officials. Such actions are unlikely to have changed since then. The border is so porous that even if these obvious crossing points were under better control, there are many others that can be used. Both to the west, through to Jeli, and to the east, through to the coast at Pengkalan Kubor / Tak Bai.

 

Similarly, there were reports of guns being found in vehicles on the Malaysian side of the border. These likely to have been destined for Thailand via the numerous illegal crossing points. Strangely, no reports of the occupants of these vehicles being prosecuted for possession of such weapons by the Malaysian authorities. No doubt strong support for the various separatist movements in the South of Thailand remains in place, no matter what is portrayed by the joint meet-ups between Malaysia and Thailand.                                     

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The southern Army chief has ordered the tightening of security along the Thai-Malaysian border after bombers reportedly smuggled explosives across to launch attacks in Bangkok, a spokesman said Thursday.

As this is a national border, this must be the regularly-referred-to 'threat to national security', which results in the arrest of so many people countywide.

It's all becoming clear now, especially as it seems so easy to smuggle explosives across it, hence the large number of ongoing arrests everywhere that the powers that be are reluctant to elucidate about.

[Srikcir]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

The southern Army chief has ordered the tightening of security along the Thai-Malaysian border

What about Prayut's border wall?

May 2018:

https://asiaviews.net/thai-malaysia-wall-political-matter-security-matter/

The Thai and Malaysian governments have agreed on a plan for a border wall. The proposed plan includes 11km wall in Dan Nok-Dan Sadao, Songkhla province.

• The wall itself is unlikely to have a serious impact on smuggling efforts.
• Much of the Songkhla population holds dual citizenship. These citizens will be able to enter and exit Thailand and Malaysia unhindered.
• The wall will be a political tool. It will be something Prayut can point to as a sign that he is trying to solve Thailand’s difficult issues.

Always going with a military solution from Prayut when a political solution is necessary. A military mind-set is simply incapable of resolving sovereign issues.