Thailand to Consider Using Drones for Patrols In Southern Provinces

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Thailand will consider using drones for patrols in the southern provinces following recent bombing incidents targeting security patrols in the volatile region, according to the National Security Council (NSC). Its secretary-general Gen Thawip Netniyom said the proposal to deploy drones in the provinces was discussed during a security meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan on Monday. Prawit is also Defence Minister and Minister responsible for internal affairs. "We could apply technology such as drones to help in security patrols which could also reduce the officers' burden. The drones could be deployed in areas that need security patrols the most," he told the media after attending a cabinet meeting, here, Tuesday. During Monday's meeting, he said, the deputy prime minister instructed the Thai Army's Fourth Region which is responsible for security in southern Thailand, to be more cautious over the security of its troops when patrolling as they had been the target of militants. Despite the recent spike in violence, the government, said Thawip, believed that the current peace process was still the best option for resolving the conflict, with another round of meeting with MARA Patani (Patani Consultative Council) scheduled soon. Malaysia is the facilitator for the peace process between the Thai government and MARA Patani. The proposal for using drones in the southern provinces came following two recent bombing incidents in Pattani and Yala which killed several soldiers on patrol and left scores injured. In the latest incident in Pattani four days ago, a powerful homemade bomb buried under an under-construction road exploded and ripped apart a four-wheel-drive vehicle carrying soldiers, killing four of them and leaving six, including a civilian, injured. The authorities estimated the homemade bomb to weigh 80 to 100 kg. The violence in Pattani followed another bombing incident in Yala, three weeks ago where a roadside bomb exploded, killing two soldiers and injuring 27 others, most of them from the bomb disposal unit. Years of conflict in Thailand's southern provinces have claimed more than 6,000 lives. -- BERNAMA