The move by the 15th Infantry Division to step up patrols along the Malaysian border is well taken. The army began the new security steps more than three weeks ago. The patrols were a direct response to an upsurge in arms smuggling. Both Malaysian and Thai authorities have recently apprehended a number of men carrying weapons across the border. Since the trade almost certainly is linked to the insurgency in the deep South, serious steps are necessary to try to stop it.
The 15th division, with headquarters at Camp Ingkhayuthaborihan in Pattani, has special attachment and responsibility for security in the restive region. Just over 10 years old, the division is staffed mostly by men and women from the deep South at all levels. Created in 2005, its mission from the beginning was to serve "to assist local citizens and develop the deep South".
Special, small units have been drawn from the division for the new border work. Patrols run 24 hours a day. Officially, they aim to halt all unauthorised border crossings, for any reason. But arms smuggling is the chief target, at least for now. Army commander Gen Chalermchai Sitthisart officially acknowledged the existence of the patrols on Sunday. The units work along the most porous parts of the frontier, in Narathiwat and Yala provinces.
This is a daunting task. The eastern part of the 647km border is a 95km stretch of the Kolok River. There are enough legal border crossings to serve business and tourism. The 15th Division patrols will not deal with those crossings -- which in fact are used by smugglers. Instead, they will concentrate on the stretches of border favoured by shady and dangerous smugglers alike. The troops are necessary because the weapons smugglers pose obvious security dangers.
It is known for certain that Malaysians friendly to the Islamic State (IS) are involved. Just a month ago, Malaysian security forces broke up a small gang that had been moving war weapons out of Thailand for a year before it was discovered. Under interrogation gang members, including two women, said they had been stockpiling the weapons for "IS warriors". So the weapons bust probably saved lives.
Malaysia has an admitted problem with IS members and sympathisers. At least 50 Malaysians were known to be fighting for the IS in Syria and Iraq. Malaysia has arrested an undisclosed but significant number of both men and women dedicated to the IS cause. Under Malaysia's draconian Internal Security Act, arrestees can be held indefinitely.
Last week, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid and national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar caused alarm in Thai government circles. The men said that IS agents or supporters from Malaysia were operating in Thailand. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha answered truthfully, that the allegation was surprising. Thailand, so far, has been free of IS activities.
Of course that can change quickly. The current danger point in the region is the southern part of the Philippines. A tiny number of Islamist criminals has ballooned in a short time. Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Sunday some 1,200 IS loyalists are arrayed in the Mindanao region. Many are foreigners. At least 40 are believed to be Indonesian. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in response to attacks.
The southern patrols should be helpful as an early warning in case of any signs of foreign interference in the deep South. So far, Islamists have kept their hateful violence out of the region. Proactive steps will help to ensure that continues.