Army Chief Prayuth Plans To ' Fence Off' Border The Entire Thai-Malaysian Border

[webfact]

Prayuth plans to 'fence off' border
The Nation


An officer inspects the police pickup truck that was hit by a bomb planted near a bridge across the Sai Buri River in Pattani. The blast killed one officer and wounded two others, all of whom belonged to a local Border Patrol police unit.

Says wall will block smuggling of bombs

BANGKOK: -- Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday floated the idea of putting up walls along the entire Thai-Malaysia border to block the smuggling of bombs and similar devices for use in attacks by insurgents. This proposal will be included in a meeting with Malaysian authorities next month.

According to the commander-in-chief, these walls would help prevent the delivery of explosives to insurgents in the deep South, while security officials can focus on breaking down networks of bomb-makers and bomb-assembly outfits.

"Many bomb-makers have become available after being released on bail as their cases have gone through the normal justice procedure," Prayuth said.

The Army chief did not provide details on the type of walls, the materials they would be built with or their height. He only used the Thai word for "fence" that will supposedly block smugglers from carrying contraband items across the border.

The general said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat and Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung had been told of this idea, and that Yingluck agreed with it in principle. Explaining the potential need for the walls, Prayuth said that though the 600-kilometre border is constantly patrolled, a personnel shortage had hampered continuous checks.

He said these walls could be constructed right away because there is no problem concerning the demarcation of the Thai-Malaysia border. He added that the issue would be raised in a meeting with Malaysian authorities on June 13, when Thai negotiators meet with insurgents' representatives and Malaysian authorities, as the facilitator in a peace dialogue.

"Though Malaysia has cooperated in checking border areas on its side, the long distance makes inspection difficult for both Thai and Malaysian officials," he added.

Devices used in making bombs have mostly been smuggled from other countries, with the exception of weapons-grade explosives, he said.

Civilian authorities at the village level up to the district level have been helping military and police officers in conducting patrols and monitoring the situation, especially along the shared Kolok River.

Meanwhile, a bomb attack in Pattani killed an Army paramilitary ranger and seriously wounded two others as the six-strong squad was resting at a school.

A home-made bomb was later found to have been planted behind a wall near the area that the squad usually stopped at after completing its morning patrol and escorting schoolteachers.

Separately, Yala police have obtained images of two suspects who allegedly brought down seven electricity poles with a bomb on Saturday. The officers said the two men were being closely monitored, but refused to name them. The authorities believe that insurgent leader Ahmad Tue-nga might have been behind the attack.


-- The Nation 2013-05-28

[BookMan]

Yeah, they could start tomorrow. The land border is only 600+ kilometres so it shouldn't take more than a week or two

He said these walls could be constructed right away because there is no problem concerning the demarcation of the Thai-Malaysia border.

[OzMick]

I was thinking that they can't be this stupid until I read Yingluk agrees..........yes, they can.

After building a 600km wall at huge expense, bomb smugglers will go around, over or under it, or simply through it at one of the normal border crossings where vehicle inspection is cursory at best.

It would be far cheaper to identify the trails that smugglers are using and periodically set up traps/ambushes.

[webfact]

Army chief mulls fencing Thai-Malaysian border
By English News



BANGKOK, May 28 – Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha disclosed that he has proposed to the government to erect fences along the entire 600-km Thai-Malaysian border in another attempt to tackle insurgency in Thailand’s southern provinces.

He said he raised the issue during talks with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last night.

“It is impossible to keep an eye on the 600-km border all the time and some spots are narrow waterways. We don’t have a problem with demarcation; so building fences along the border could be one of the solutions,” he said.

Gen Prayuth’s proposal was in response to escalating attacks by militants in Thailand’s far South.

He said southern insurgents were putting pressure on the government to fulfill their demands while security forces have successively suppressed them.

Some of the suspects in explosions in the South were released on bail, he said, calling on neighbouring Malaysia to crack down on the transport of explosives across the border to Thai soil. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-28

[arthurboy]

As the continued carnage and indiscriminate murder continues unabated, the army chief wants to build a fence.

Perhaps he should seek advice from the Israeli and US governments on this issue as to the effectiveness, cost, environmental and people impact, freedom of legitimate movement etc. of such a scheme.

If not general, please remember that google is your friend.

However, as the general continues to clutch at straws, I bet that the usual snouts are already beginning to sniff around this particular trough.

[Ianatlarge]

I seem to recall that the ancient Roman's required three years to build Hadrian's Wall, to keep the riff raff Scots out, or at least under control (excellent idea). Anyway, I doubt if a 'fence' here will do any good. A fence in itself will not stop movement across the border. There is so much illegal cross-border trade (petrol, cigs, stolen items, etc.) that a few bombs will always find themselves in this mix. Of course, who will build and how much for, are important questions to ask about this fence. To stop this violence you might want to address the issues that provoke it in the first place.

[robblok]

As the continued carnage and indiscriminate murder continues unabated, the army chief wants to build a fence.

Perhaps he should seek advice from the Israeli and US governments on this issue as to the effectiveness, cost, environmental and people impact, freedom of legitimate movement etc. of such a scheme.

If not general, please remember that google is your friend.

However, as the general continues to clutch at straws, I bet that the usual snouts are already beginning to sniff around this particular trough.

You hit the nail on the head, the reason they are interested is that this is an other big mega building project they can skim off. It is not going to work or if they want it to work like in Israel it will cost major money to upkeep and patrol, its not like a wall without security is going to stop much.

[ratcatcher]

Simply unbelievable coming from the country's highest ranking military man.

He will get a lot of criticism for this idea following the blimp and bomb detector fiascos.

I hope he doesn't take a fence.

[robblok]

Simply unbelievable coming from the country's highest ranking military man.

He will get a lot of criticism for this idea following the blimp and bomb detector fiascos.

I hope he doesn't take a fence.

Its not that unbelieveable if you start to believe that whatever a politician of military man in Thailand does is to find large projects to skim money from to enrich themselves. I just can't believe they are that stupid so this is the only reason I can come up with.

[Payboy]

He only used the Thai word for "fence" that will supposedly block smugglers from carrying contraband items across the border.

Stand by for the face-saving announcement "he only meant a virtual wall".

[rametindallas]

This should work at least as well as the fence between the U.S. and Mexico or Gaza and Egypt. LOL! I think what this really is, it is a peace deal between the Army and the PT government. Win Win. The both profit politically and financially. Maybe the General wants to not be transferred to an inactive post. Of course, this idea is not more ridiculous than submarines, aircraft carriers, blimps, fake bomb detectors and just about everything else the Army has a hand in.

[bigbamboo]

Where do the Thai Army get all their twits from?

I suppose it comes from being in little more than a cosy club with guaranteed promotions, getting dressed up in fancy uniforms every so often and playing snooker.

[lee b]

emm thats going to be one long fence. Maybe a new usa / mexico border on the way !!

[technologybytes]

Considering that currently you can walk through the border control area without ever being asked to show any documents, I think a fence would be a waste of time.

The same is true of most borders with Thailand, I often wander through to the other side of a Thai border to do some shopping without ever being asked for my passport.

[johnlandy]

Simply unbelievable coming from the country's highest ranking military man.

He will get a lot of criticism for this idea following the blimp and bomb detector fiascos.

I hope he doesn't take a fence.

Once again it demonstrates the abject mentality of these people, and the reason that the people (of whom he is a fine example) are perpetuating the reasons that the world holds them in such ridicule.

How could this guy be put in charge of a toilet cleaning detail let alone the armed forces.

And it was only a few days back when the reports were stating 'the situation in the south is under control'

[longway]

Maybe its the thai way of paying someone off to retire gracefully, the wall will never be built but the 'feasibility studies' will generate a nice little nest egg to take with him when he goes wherever old soldiers go. I dont know but it must be connected with money somehow, it always is.

[chiman]

Awesome Idea! The Great Wall of Thailand!

[seajae]

so the bomb makers are released on bail while awaiting their appearance in court , sounds about right, let them out on bail so they can build more bombs and the thais are trying to work out where all the bombs are comming from. Is it justy me or are these thai know alls just simply stupid, just shoot the bastards, they built the bombs used to kill thais and they are then released on bail, bloody idots

[AllanB]

How high is this wall going to be and how strong? Mmmmm...problems

1. Half the money allocated will go missing, so it won't be to spec.

2. If it isn't 100 metres high people will cob the bombs over, or jump over.

3. If just one block thick, someone could back their Toyota into it.

4. Without deep foundations a tunnel will take 5 minutes.

5. If they run out of money, people will walk round.

6. There will have to doors, so put a couple of extras in, maybe even after it is built.

There are some spin offs though.

1 The next world champion Pole Vaulter will be Thai.

2. They may find oil while tunneling.

3. Unemployment will go down while they are building it.

4. Great advertising hording, 600km long.

5. You might be able to see it from space.

6. Good location for a BMW showroom for government officials to use.

[thhMan]

OH... Come on Thailand... Wake Up....

The rest of the world is taking down walls and you are considering putting them up....

You really need to sack all these Thai buffoons that have any say or even opinion on what Thailand should do

Suppressing opinions is against what I believe, however, the Thailand population is not smart enough to evaluate stupidity from positive actions. If they where, politicians wouldn't be where they are now and Thailand would be moving forward... not sitting in the cesspool its creating for itself!

Whats next? Westerners get rounded up and go to "camps"

[stickylies]

just give back the south to malaysia. case solved.

[stickylies]

Whats next? Westerners get rounded up and go to "camps"

Next? Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin and Samui are camps already.

[lostmebike]

'Let's build a wall! My brother Somchai will get the contract. My sister Somying will do the accounts and I will lay back and think about the future'

[wilcopops]

building walls? Berlin, N. Ireland, Palestine, US every one a consummate failure and a PR disaster! If you want a major cock-upjust live it to the military!

THe only thing you ever achieve by building a wall is telling EVERYONE on the other side that you think they are persona non grata.

the people who dreamed up this xenophobic idea should be called upon to resign by every right-minded person in the country.

I would love to say what I think of them but the language is not permitted on TV.

Edited May 28, 2013 by wilcopops

[Class C]

Good background reading here. I am not sure it is 100% factual but it reads well

http://www.mkenology.com/2012/05/history-of-patani.html

Understanding the history of the land and its people is the only way forward.........

[bangkokrick]

The 'Great Wall' of Thailand.

[how241]

Awesome Idea! The Great Wall of Thailand!

+1

[cup-O-coffee]

Mission Impossible!

[NeverSure]

The 'Great Wall' of Thailand.

Thailand will be the hub of border fences.

[lostmebike]

The 'Great Wall' of Thailand.

Thailand will be the hub of border fences.

Maybe if there was a border fence around all of Thailand it could be the 'hubbed in hub of all hubs'

Sorry

Edited May 28, 2013 by lostmebike