Army drill in Lamphun frightens residents

By The Nation

 

 

LAMPHUN: -- Hundreds of soldiers patrolling the streets in Lamphun caused people to panic on Thursday until the Army clarified that it was a drill for new soldiers before sending them to the deep South.

The unusual military presence was shared on social media as people in Lamphun posted pictures of soldiers patrolling the streets and stationed in local temples and intersections, with many people expressing concern about the troop presence.

 

Colonel Phongmitr Pinpankong, commander of the Lamphun Peacekeeping Force, said the mobilisation was just a drill for new soldiers who would be sent to the deep South, with most of the soldiers came from Kawila Military Base in Chiang Mai.

 

Phongmitr said the training on an hypothetical security alert would conclude at the end of the month. Four companies participated with each company consisting of 164 soldiers.

 

He said the Army had already notified local authorities about the drill, adding that it had a secondary benefit of preventing criminals from committing crimes due to the military presence.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30324087

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-17

Hopefully the transportation shown go with the troops... the ones in the background.

Probably the most exciting thing to happen in Lamphun in years.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

a secondary benefit of preventing criminals from committing crimes due to the military presence

Never stopped criminals in the past!! Never stopped criminals in a disaster zone!! I guess we will never read here (after the soldiers go South) whether the criminals in Lamphun were any different

One can only wonder how training in sleepy Lamphun could possibly prepare them for the excitement in the south.

1 hour ago, wirat69 said:

Never stopped criminals in the past!! Never stopped criminals in a disaster zone!! I guess we will never read here (after the soldiers go South) whether the criminals in Lamphun were any different

... after the soldiers go south

 

hopefully not

Since the latest coup, to really be honest, groups of soldiers don't even get a raised eyebrow from me.  At worst it means stability where before there may have been chaos.  Works well enough here in the Land of Soldiers, errr, Smiles!  

1 hour ago, cmsally said:

One can only wonder how training in sleepy Lamphun could possibly prepare them for the excitement in the south.

Maybe they were teaching them how to cross roads without getting run over.  Pedestrian traffic at the moat in front of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai can be, thrilling!  

23 minutes ago, connda said:

Maybe they were teaching them how to cross roads without getting run over.  Pedestrian traffic at the moat in front of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai can be, thrilling!  

Most likely just trying to avoid the Lamphun drivers. Lamphun is notorious for the worst drivers!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the Lamphun Peacekeeping Force

Hmmmmmm, what on earth could be their mandate?

 

 

 

 

 

It was actually in Pa Sang, 15km south west of Lamphun. Don't worry, Lamphun is still really boring, feel free to stick to Chiang Mai.

Yes, passed a few separate groups this morning strolling along the local sois. (PaSang area). Some looked totally uninterested; they had better smarten up if they want a long life, heading to where they are going.

4 hours ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

Hmmmmmm, what on earth could be their mandate?

 

 

 

 

 

I'm afraid that this may portend "interesting times" in the future.

What on earth is the point in sending new recruits from the North of Thailand - who probably speak Kham Muang and, maybe, Central Thai - to the deep South of Thailand where the language and vocabulary are totally different?

 

Hearts and minds - I think not!

 

Patrick

16 hours ago, webfact said:

a drill for new soldiers before sending them to the deep South.

Won't they be surprised when in the South someone tries to kill them instead of compliant Thai citizens kowtowing the Thai military?

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Hundreds of soldiers patrolling the streets in Lamphun caused people to panic

i bet it did; makes one wonder on the mentality of military leadership

It's probably less to do with the deep south than it is to do with a certain court date at the end of the month.  I don't think it's s coincidence that this will only stop at the end of the month. 

14 hours ago, naboo said:

It was actually in Pa Sang, 15km south west of Lamphun. Don't worry, Lamphun is still really boring, feel free to stick to Chiang Mai.

I was in Pa Sang at the weekend, this makes the story even weirder again.