Army chief backs strengthening Thai soldiers’ combat capability

[News Bandit]

BANGKOK, Sept 4 – Army Commander-in-Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has instructed a boost both in the numbers of army personnel in the South and their combat readiness, to better perform in their anti-insurgent duties with the violence in the region.

Col Sirichan Ngathong, deputy army spokeswoman, said Monday that the army chief has ordered all regional army commands to provide intensive combat and simulation training to soldiers in preparation for their duties in the South given the different terrain in the region which requires a sophisticated fighting strategy.

The army chief, she added, urged army officers to closely monitor the southern situation in the wake of last weekend’s symbolic action by insurgents who hoisted Malaysian flags throughout the Thai South.

She said Gen Prayuth had explained to Malaysia through its military attaché in Bangkok that the move was merely an attempt to create misunderstanding between the two neighbouring countries.

“We can assure (Thai people) that the relationship of the two countries remains strong as ever,” Col Sirichan said.  (MCOT online news)

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