Security personnel face cut

Security personnel face cut

Military officers were on duty to inspect a scene in Narathiwat's Reuso district after a bomb threat on Monday. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
Military officers were on duty to inspect a scene in Narathiwat's Reuso district after a bomb threat on Monday. (Photo by Waedao Harai)

Security manpower in the deep South will be cut by almost 1,500 personnel next year, the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) says.

The scale-back, approved yesterday by the Isoc committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, will apply to key units of the Isoc Region 4 Forward Command.

The number of soldiers, police and defence volunteers will decrease by 1,443 to 69,295, Isoc spokesman Maj Gen Banpot Poonpian said after the committee meeting.

He indicated the personnel reduction will not affect the authorities' ability to suppress security threats and protect local residents against acts of violence in the southernmost provinces. 

After the reduction, there will be 31,000 soldiers, 18,000 police officers and 9,600 defence volunteers left, he said, adding the personnel reduction plan for next year will be forwarded to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for approval. A security source said defence volunteers will fill the gap where security authorities are withdrawn.

The soldiers, police and security volunteers have played a key role in tackling unrest since the violence flared up in 2004. A security presence has been maintained in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat as well as four Songkhla districts of Thepha, Na Thawi, Chana and Saba Yoi.

The status of the four districts as well as Pattani's Mae Laen district as security protection areas will be maintained until Nov 30 next year, according to Maj Gen Banpot.

Meanwhile, in Narathiwat, three trains were delayed for two hours after a hand grenade was thrown at a traffic police booth at Rueso railway station yesterday morning but failed to explode, police said.

Rueso stationmaster Mongkol Klanarong told police a passing motorcyclist hurled the grenade at the booth.

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