PATTANI: Residents of Nong Chik district of this strife-torn southern province have called for the military to withdraw troops deployed in two tambons for over 10 days, saying their presence has made it difficult for them to make their living.
As many as 1,000 soldiers have been deployed in tambons Bang Khao and Tha Kam Sam in Nong Chik district since a group of insurgents ambushed a six-man patrol of the Ranger Company 4303 at Ban Bang Than village in tambon Bang Khao on Sept 11, killing two rangers and injuring the other four.
Following the incident, military authorities launched a crackdown called the Bang Than Operation to facilitate a massive manhunt for perpetrators believed to be in hiding in the two tambons intertwined by canals along the coastline.
Under the crackdown, local people are required to surrender their guns, ammunition, fishing boats and other vehicles to the authorities for examination.
Local people told reporters that they have cooperated with the soldiers, bringing their fishing boats for an examination by fishery, marine and administrative officials. The examination, at Ban Tanyong Pao in tambon Tha Kham Sam, was set to end on Sunday.
Aside from the boats, the villagers said, they have brought their registered firearms for the authorities to examine at the Nong Chik district office.The examination of cars, trucks and motorcycles have also been underway.
Local residents said that although the authorities have returned their boats following the examination, they dare not go out fishing in the canals as usual, especially at night, because they run the risk of arrest by suspicious soldiers, who are authorised to do so under martial law.
There is no guarantee that such a misunderstanding will not happen, they said. The soldiers who have been deployed are from elsewhere and are not familiar with the local people. The military presence has deprived them of income to feed their families, they said.
Tea shops which are usually open from 5am to midnight have been forced to close at 6pm.
Some villagers also complained that their mobile phones have been taken by the authorities, also for examination, but have not been returned to them, depriving them of the means to communicate.