Army Chief Urges More Broad-Based Cooperation To Solve Problem In Deep South

[Lite Beer]

Army chief urges more broad-based cooperation to solve problem in deep South

BANGKOK, Oct 22 - Army chief Gen Prayutha Chan-ocha on Monday urged 17 ministries to take part in tackling violence in the restive southern border region, reasserting that cooperation of all parties is needed to solve the problem.

The army chief made his remarks as insurgents stepped up attacks in the Muslim-majority southern border provinces.

Gen Prayuth said insurgents conducted the attacks to demonstrate their capacity to stage violence. He noted concerned agencies have to review situations in the past whether there was any injustice or conflicts, particularly in Narathiwat's Ruso and Bacho districts, which are violence-prone areas.

The army chief added participation of local people is still insufficient, given the roadside bombing this morning. He said it is impossible that residents in the area did not see when the assailants dug into the road to plant bomb as it would take several hours to finish, yet no one alerted security officials of the matter.

Gen Prayuth said if the situation continues like this, violence will also continue in the area.

The army chief also called on 66 relevant agencies of 17 ministries to visit the deep South, not only commanders from the headquarters in the capital and not to rely only on army operations.

Gen Prayuth said the army can only enforce the law, but public understanding may not easily happen without more cooperation and existence of concerned agencies in the violence-plagued areas.

Regarding websites registered in Malaysia publishing content deemed to be attacking the Thai government and the army's strategies in the southern border region, Gen Prayuth said it is the duty of Thai police to seek court orders for the closure of these controversial websites, not the army. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-22

[Pimay1]

I wonder if Gen Prayutha Chan-ocha will include the investigation and subsequent court marshall of any of the army personnel if found guilty for the Tak Bai massacre and the Kru Se Mosque slaughter. Or is this another one sided request?

[asiawatcher]

Why does the Army Chief have to 'urge' 17 (yes SEVENTEEN) Ministries to get involved? If the Army has to beg for assistance in solving the issue it kinda tells us the Govt is sticking its collective head in the sand playing Ostrich (which we all know anyway.. call to Dubai -- Pi... Pi.. what do I do now?)

[Thai at Heart]

Once again a pooyai urging the obvious.

[Halion]

Civil unrest is a mater for the police and not the army . The very fact that we have the army ensconsed in these areas is complete vindication that law and order has broken down to a point where the gaurdians of law and order are completely out of their depth. If the circumstances have broken down so much as to need the intervention of theThai Army then, so be it, simply impose marshal law and conduct house to house searches and arrest anyone found with unregistered weapons or explosives. Button the place down and demonstrate that you will not tolerate these terroist acts. However , rules of engagement have to be strictly adhered too and any member of the Military found to be acting in contra taunt should be put on a charge and dismised from military service. Furthermore, the Army chiefs should be banned from communicating with any form of media on any issue regarding their remit in the Deep South. Outside communism any country that has their military actively engaged in Government is doomed to failure.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Civil unrest is a mater for the police and not the army . The very fact that we have the army ensconsed in these areas is complete vindication that law and order has broken down to a point where the gaurdians of law and order are completely out of their depth. If the circumstances have broken down so much as to need the intervention of theThai Army then, so be it, simply impose marshal law and conduct house to house searches and arrest anyone found with unregistered weapons or explosives. Button the place down and demonstrate that you will not tolerate these terroist acts. However , rules of engagement have to be strictly adhered too and any member of the Military found to be acting in contra taunt should be put on a charge and dismised from military service. Furthermore, the Army chiefs should be banned from communicating with any form of media on any issue regarding their remit in the Deep South. Outside communism any country that has their military actively engaged in Government is doomed to failure.

Yes you are right here, you don't tell your enemies how you plan to fight them in any form of media. But with an army with 2000 generals anything can happen!

[hellodolly]

Civil unrest is a mater for the police and not the army . The very fact that we have the army ensconsed in these areas is complete vindication that law and order has broken down to a point where the gaurdians of law and order are completely out of their depth. If the circumstances have broken down so much as to need the intervention of theThai Army then, so be it, simply impose marshal law and conduct house to house searches and arrest anyone found with unregistered weapons or explosives. Button the place down and demonstrate that you will not tolerate these terroist acts. However , rules of engagement have to be strictly adhered too and any member of the Military found to be acting in contra taunt should be put on a charge and dismised from military service. Furthermore, the Army chiefs should be banned from communicating with any form of media on any issue regarding their remit in the Deep South. Outside communism any country that has their military actively engaged in Government is doomed to failure.

That is probably the best idea I have heard to make it worse down there than it is.

Along with the 17 different departments it would be good to try to get the Imen or who ever it is that is the leader in the Islam movement in that area involved.

Also fire 16 committees They are just pigs eating out of the tax payers money. They all have a record of utter failure. Take the brightest and honest out of them and make one committee.