SARABURI, Jan 4 – A new batch of 1,800 “security police,” recruited from former soldiers holding the rank of private, with experience in Thailand’s far South, will be dispatched to the three troubled provinces soon, Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said today.
He said the former soldiers had been posted in the southern region for at least two years before they joined the police force and they are knowledgeable about the state’s security strategy and justice procedure.
National police chief Adul Saengsingkaew reportedly informed the army chief that the 1,800 new police officers should complete their training in April or May this year.
Over 1,000 of the 7,000 current police cases in the southern region are related to security, Gen Prayuth said, indicating that it is helpful to have police officers with knowledge of justice procedures.
He said the army has entered the second phase of resolution for the South with an emphasis on strengthening manpower in the field and eliminating the people’s misperception.
Gen Prayuth said, in tackling the southern problems, the army is not working on a day-to-day basis but rather following a long-term plan which will be in force until 2026.
