BANGKOK, 6 November 2013 Army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has declined to comment on the amnesty bill, which will likely be turned down by the Senate, but expressed his concerns over the probable escalation of the demonstrations.
According to the army chief, the army is currently allocating more equipment and weapons to the troops in Narathiwat province to enable them to handle the unrest more efficiently. He said he was happy to have heard the news of a proposed peace talk.
Gen. Prayuth, however, declined to comment on whether the Senate would pass the amnesty bill – urging reporters to pose the question towards those who are directly involved.
In regard to the Thai-Cambodian boarder dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple, the general reaffirmed that the army was ready to protect the nation’s sovereignty, brushing aside suggestions that the Cambodian army was attempting to provoke Thai soldiers by reinforcing its troops on the boarders.
