Video clip on South clash 'not new'
Nakarin Chinworakomon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A video clip circulating on Facebook purporting to show a recent attack by officials against innocent civilians in fact contains old footage of an operation conducted on May 20, 2011, said Colonel Pramote Phrom-in, spokesman for Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 Front.

The footage is of a clash in Yala's Than To district between officials and suspected insurgents led by Ma-ae Apibanbae, who was wanted for suspected involvement in 28 national-security cases, Pramote said.

The incident led to the deaths of four insurgents including Mae-ae, while the authorities seized two rifles and one pistol, along with ammunition and nine mobile phones, the colonel said.

The innocent home-owner and family members seen in the clip were unharmed, he added.

"Such posting of clips by ill-intentioned persons is aimed at getting the public to misunderstand and hate state officials, so I want everyone to exercise discretion in consuming news and information and to probe such occurrences," he said.

Members of the public should alert officials via the 1341 hotline so that such incidents can be investigated and explained to society, he said.

Pramote also reported that 19 foreign military attaches were briefed yesterday about Thai government policy and operations to handle the Southern Unrest at Isoc's office at the Sirindhorn Army camp in Pattani's Yarang district.

The group was welcomed by Army Region 4 Commander Lt-General Sakol Cheuntrakul and senior officers.

Pramote said the idea was to get these countries to back Thailand's efforts to solve the problem and to reject the insurgents' violent methods, which are aimed at elevating a domestic issue into an international one.

Thailand also wants to keep these countries updated about the situation and facts, about the insurgents' methods and capacity to create violence, and about the government's efforts to integrate agencies' works in the region.

The group also saw an exhibition about agencies' efforts in the areas of safeguarding life and property; life quality and infrastructure development; justice and human rights; and education.

They were also informed about methods of investigating violent cases and remedial measures for those affected and those wishing to turn over a new leaf, Pramote said.

He earlier announced the authorities' success in raiding an insurgent base in the Budo Mountain Range in Narathiwat's Bacho district, where some 20 insurgents reportedly lie low. Several pieces of evidence were seized, including camping gear and medical supplies.

Crediting the success to locals' full cooperation with the state, |he urged people to continue to be on the lookout for suspicious movements and persons in their neighbourhoods and to alert the state via the 1341 and 1881 hotlines around the clock if they notice anything.


-- The Nation 2013-08-29

Like to know the Colonel's definition of success when only some bullets and camping gear was found at base, not one insurgent captured or killed.

EDIT: I guess it's a step forward in the locals are informing on insurgents presence in the area.

Should we assume that a link to the video is not being provided in deference to Colonel Pramote?