Army chief assesses situation in deep South after withdrawal of soldiers

By The Nation

 

Army chief General Chalermchai Sitthisat visited the deep South on Saturday to follow up last month’s mass military withdrawal that left only soldiers from the Fourth Army Region there.

 

In Narathiwat’s Muang district, Chalermchai – accompanied by Army deputy chief of staff Lt-General Nattapon Nakpanich and the Navy’s Marine Division chief Rear Admiral Sangkorn Pongsiri – attended a meeting with Narathiwat Task Force commander Maj-General Vicharn Suksong and 100 related unit chiefs from 13 districts.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30300377

 

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-11-20

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

last month’s mass military withdrawal that left only soldiers from the Fourth Army Region there.

A caveot on the "mass withdrawal" - it wasn't.

 

"[DPM] Prawit said the withdrawal of troops in the deep South would only be partial and the Army chief would ensure there troops on the ground in every area, especially paramilitary rangers [security contractors] who had been recruited in were sufficient great numbers."
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/941419-security-drones-in-south-mulled/

 

In September Prawit further announced a reshuffle in the 4th Army Area Command would intended to improve the situation in the three southernmost provinces and also put together a new troop to ensure higher efficiency in security operations. "Gen Prawit to reveal members of govt's Deep South front line team in October" - could not find link

 

Military may be preparing excuses for failure to end violence in the South by force.

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

A caveot on the "mass withdrawal" - it wasn't.

 

"[DPM] Prawit said the withdrawal of troops in the deep South would only be partial and the Army chief would ensure there troops on the ground in every area, especially paramilitary rangers [security contractors] who had been recruited in were sufficient great numbers."
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/941419-security-drones-in-south-mulled/

 

In September Prawit further announced a reshuffle in the 4th Army Area Command would intended to improve the situation in the three southernmost provinces and also put together a new troop to ensure higher efficiency in security operations. "Gen Prawit to reveal members of govt's Deep South front line team in October" - could not find link

 

Military may be preparing excuses for failure to end violence in the South by force.

Fish or cut bait.

Still bereft of ideas of how to control the situation in the south.  A military solution may not work but any other solution may need to be backed up by force. "Speak softly and carry a big stick" comes to mind.

 

And not enough sense to bring in advisers from o'seas who may be able to advance ideas on how to handle the southern problem. I bet if these problems were in Bangkok they would have dealt with it immediately.

Last time they withdrew troops from  the south was in AV's spell as PM. The result was that the pressure was taken off from the terrorists and they used this to regroup, retrain and expand their support base. It was a disaster and they are repeating it.