Songkhla governor urges high protection for economic cities during Songkran

SONGKHLA, 11 April 2015 (NNT) – The Governor of Songkhla has urged all sectors to provide security protection for the three economic cities during the Songkran holidays, while the police are pushing forward public participation on security issues.

The Governor of Songkhla Thamrong Charoenkul has said that Songkhla province requires security monitoring and protection in the key economic cities, namely Hat Yai City, Sadao City, and Songkhla City, during the Songkran holidays. Several operations will be implemented to prevent any incidents from occurring in the area.

He has stressed that all officials have to dedicate themselves to their roles as well as integrate with other agencies for the peace and order of the society, and to gain trusts from the tourists visiting the province during the Songkran holidays where many activities are set to take place.

On this topic, the Commissioner of the Songkhla Provincial Police Pol Maj Gen Amphon Buarubporn has revealed that the police are pushing forward the ‘Hat Yai Model’ that integrates public surveillance.

He has said that police officers have been commanded to work in cooperation with security agencies such as the military, administrative sector, volunteers, and the local administration organization to place 32 main security checkpoints as well as other checkpoints that serves all 16 districts of Songkhla province that provide 24-hour service.

Strict security checks will be carried out at checkpoints with special emphasis on vehicles related to the security cases, while search operations will also be carried out at rental rooms in risk areas to prevent any potential incident.

Central areas of the key economic cities will receive special security treatment, especially the location of the Songkran acitvity at the center of Hat Yai City to protect the public and tourists attending the event.

-- NNT 2015-04-11

It sounds like they are preparing for a nuclear war.

Next thing they will be digging to create nuclear bunkers.

It's only water throwing we are speaking about, what security issues are they talking about?

It sounds like they are preparing for a nuclear war.

Next thing they will be digging to create nuclear bunkers.

It's only water throwing we are speaking about, what security issues are they talking about?

Costas

It's not that they believe there is a real security issue. But, it's important to keep the masses feeling there is a threat, hence justifying all the measures they take.

So, I agree with your last sentence but, in your first line, they are not preparing for nuclear war, but continuing to justify military rule in the public's eye - one way or the other.

When nothing happens they will then be able to say 'See our measures were effective".

Have a good time......

Sadao is a key economic city? I learn something new every day.

While I can muster a certain amount of cynicism, it's not quite as cynical as Emilymat above.

It does sound like there may be some intel, but Songkran being so important (economically as well as simply important to the people), the Governor may not wish to startle everyone and spoil it all, rather choosing to ramp up security.

"search operations will also be carried out at rental rooms in risk areas". It does sound like they may be looking for people.

It's only water throwing we are speaking about, what security issues are they talking about?

It's not that they believe there is a real security issue.

Err, we're not talking about anywhere in Thailand we're talking about Songkhla province, the province that borders Yala and Pattani, so they're not making anything up. It's ten years since they last bombed around Songkran, in 2005 two people were killed and 68 wounded. Security has improved markedly since then but that doesn't stop the terrorists from trying, so the Governor is perfectly correct to talk up the issue of security at Songkran.

I think they will be able to incorporate the checks into the Seven Days of Danger road safety campaign now underway, not that it will make any difference.