Thai Army chief:Situation remains normal

BANGKOK, November 1 (TNA) - ]New Thai Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart says that the situation in the country remains normal with no irregularities detected so far. General Chalermchai told journalists of the update on Tuesday, a day after the Defence Council issued an order at its latest meeting to all agencies under the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Thai Armed Forces to be on high alert to block any entry into the country by members of extremist groups, including those of the Islamic State (IS). General Chalermchai said the order followed reports that recent crackdowns on IS movements in the Middle East have forced members of the extremist group to flee to other regions. The newly-appointed Thai army chief acknowledged that terrorism is now an international issue with continual warnings for precaution and public safety. "Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has issued an instruction for the concerned agencies to step up their vigilance in border areas, immigration checkpoints and other possible entries, but no irregularities have been reported so far", the army chief noted. According to the newly-appointed army chief, the deputy prime minister has also ordered the Royal Thai Navy to be watchful and to regularly patrol the Thai maritime territory in response to reports on a fresh exodus of Rohingya Muslim refugees from neighbouring countries. (TNA)