BANGKOK, 2 August 2012 – The Defense Ministry has acquired assistance from the Air Force to help the Army’s operation in Thailand’s Deep South.
Defense Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat said that C.S. Pattani Hotel has been the target of terror attack once in 2008 and that the recent bomb attack was intended to manifest the ability of the separatist group in causing damages and losses.
Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol stated that, after the blast on Tuesday, he has held discussions with the commanders of all forces. He said all agreed that the weakness in the Army’s operation in the violence-plagued southern border region is the fact that the number of military officers on duty is less than the amount of tasks there.
The Defense Minister said that the Army is to be responsible for the peace-keeping operation in the Deep South and the clampdown on drugs and smuggling.
Therefore, in order to assist the military operations, the Defense Minister has asked the Air Force chief to provide an air patrol service to provide security to officers in the region.
In addition, Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol affirmed that the involvement of Deputy PMs Yongyoot Wichaidit and Chalerm Yubumrung in handling the southern border violence, as instructed by the Prime Minister, will not be overlapping with his responsibilities.
