Thai-Cambodian Border Governors Ordered To Set Up War Rooms

[webfact]

Border governors ordered to set up war rooms

SURIN, 8 February 2011 (NNT) – Interior Minister Chavarat Chanvirakul has instructed governors of provinces on the Thai-Cambodian border to set up war rooms to monitor the border situation and hand out assistance to villagers affected by cross-border shellings.

Mr Chavarat on Tuesday chaired a meeting with the governors of Surin, Buri Ram and Sa Kaeo as well as officials from related units in Surin province. He reiterated to the governors of those border provinces to stay alert and set up war rooms to give assistances, both at the provincial and district levels.

The minister also assigned the provincial governors to closely coordinate with the military, monitor news reports provided by coordinators at the community level, warn local residents upon possible spilling-over of clashes, and be prepared for evacuation.

Mr Chavarat ordered all provinces located near the border to establish a self-defense system, with supports from other districts and nearby provinces. He also asked the officials to speedily raise understanding with villagers, take evacuation drills and boost their morale.

The minister later visited local residents gathering at Kap Choeng Witthaya School and gave them survival kits plus his own donation of 100,000 THB through Kap Choeng district office. He also conversed with villagers, telling them to bear with the situation and wait for upcoming peace.

-- NNT 2011-02-08

[londonthai]

there is no war, so why war rooms and why they suppose to be set up by the civilian authorities?

monitoring border should exclusively be in the hands of military, self-defence set up by civilians is not needed at this stage (no war and no encrochment by the cambodian's army).

Edited February 8, 2011 by londonthai

[DP25]

there is no war, so why war rooms and why they suppose to be set up by the civilian authorities?

monitoring border should exclusively be in the hands of military, self-defence set up by civilians is not needed at this stage (no war and no encrochment by the cambodian's army).

Hint, the term 'war room' also refers to command centers set up to respond to all sorts of situations, like hurricanes, earthquakes, political campaigns, etc, and in this case the shelling of Thai towns by the Cambodian military and the need to deal with the people affected by it.

[OzMick]

there is no war, so why war rooms and why they suppose to be set up by the civilian authorities?

monitoring border should exclusively be in the hands of military, self-defence set up by civilians is not needed at this stage (no war and no encrochment by the cambodian's army).

"...........no encrochment by the cambodian's army." sic At least, that is the Cambodian perspective, which may differ a little to what the Thai's believe.

[jayjay0]

there is no war, so why war rooms and why they suppose to be set up by the civilian authorities?

monitoring border should exclusively be in the hands of military, self-defence set up by civilians is not needed at this stage (no war and no encrochment by the cambodian's army).

That was my feelings also.The one paragraph that jumped out at me was

"Mr Chavarat ordered all provinces located near the border to establish a self-defense system, with supports from other districts and nearby provinces. He also asked the officials to speedily raise understanding with villagers, take evacuation drills and boost their morale."

In effect is he saying the army is in over there head and will need the civilians to pull them out?

How are the officials going to explain to the villagers that the army needs there help to defend them in a war that makes no sense at all unless you are a politician. And in all likely hood they never wanted.

That should be a neat trick teaching them how to evacuate and raising there morale at the same time.

I just realized if they need civilians it is a perfect opertunity for the Yellow Shirts or is it Yellow Spines.

Edited February 8, 2011 by jayjay0