DEEP SOUTH / RANGERS DEPLOYED

Tighter security for Songkran

Twenty additional companies of rangers have been deployed in the deep South to beef up security over the Songkran holidays.

The deployment of troops follows reports that there would be more violent attacks during the long holiday period.

Army spokesman Akkara Thiproj, head of the Civilian-Police-Military Command's public relations centre, said security measures were in place and 20 companies of rangers had been sent to the deep South since April 1.

He was confident that the unrest would soon ease as most rangers were deployed in their native provinces and would play a mediating role in coordinating work with local residents. Troops have also been asked to increase the frequency of patrols in areas under curfew.

Col Akkara said local people have recently given more cooperation to the authorities who were on the right track to address the southern problems. They have worked hard to persuade misled people who joined insurgent networks to change their minds and cripple the networks, he said.

Arrested members of a rebel group earlier confessed that they had been forced to take an oath to work for the militants, which brainwashed them.

Meanwhile, violence continued in the region with a 66-year-old villager shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Pattani province yesterday. Lamoon Chanthaburi, 66, was attacked by two motorcycle riders in Nong Chik district.

Bangkok Post

Monday April 09, 2007