Security measures heightened in Thai far South

YALA, THAILAND, September 28 (TNA) - Security measures in the Thai far South have been heightened, in response to a violent attack threat recently aired by insurgents in the region, particularly on Fridays. Commanding General of the 4th Army Area Command Lieutenant General Udomchai Thamsarorach told journalists Friday that such the threat, through leaflets, is an old tactic of insurgents, but he has ordered maximum security measures in the violence-plagued Thai deep South and has also asked police and civil servants to lend a helping hand. Meanwhile, Colonel Nopporn Ruanjan, Deputy Commander of Yala's ad hoc military unit, led soldiers and paramilitary rangers to secure the Pimolchai fresh market, for instance, where they found that over 90 per cent of shops were closed; so, the public relations of the soldiers convinced some local business operators to open their shops as usual. Colonel Nopporn acknowledged that the insurgent threat started about 3-4 weeks ago and authorities concerned are trying to trace people behind it and could secure major local areas, including the Pimolchai market, with heavy guards and patrols, especially at night. Partial shop closure also happened in two other southernmost Thai provinces of Pattani and Narathiwat, where local security officers patrolled and inspected local areas to guarantee security. (TNA)