The Fourth Army Region plans to send soldiers based in three southern border provinces to live with local people in villages to ensure their safety and reduce insurgents’ influence in the area.
Fourth Army chief Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat said teams of operational soldiers who underwent a special training would be asked to leave their outposts and live in villages in the three restive provinces — Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
He spoke during the opening ceremony of the military training at the Special Warfare Training Sichon Camp in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on Tuesday. A total of 218 soldiers from the 5th Infantry Division took part in the special training, which runs until June 17.
On the same day, the Fourth Army chief led soldiers, police and local officials to visit local Buddhists and monks in Bannang Sata district of Yala southern border province.
He assured the local people that security officers would do their best to protect them and monks.
Authorities would also solve drug problems in the areas by dealing with small drug traders in the villages. Addicts would be sent for treatment so they could start a new life, said Lt Gen Pornsak.
On safety measures, soldiers must socialise with local people by staying in villages under a military operation to protect innocent people and put pressure on insurgents, said Lt Gen Pornsak.
He vowed to turn southern border villages into insurgents-free communities. He said community leaders and religious leaders must work alongside state officials to protect the communities in the deep South.
The Fourth Army chief later handed out necessary items to local residents.
