Southern army chief ordered to respond to unrest situations

BANGKOK, May 4 (TNA) -- Army commander-in-chief Chalermchai Sitthisad has ordered the commander of the 4th Army Region to restore order in southern border provinces after Friday morning’s incidents. Gen Chalermchai laid down the order after anti-government banners were reported from the provinces early Friday morning. The incidents did not implicate any special signal and 4th Army commander Gen Piyawat Nakwanich was ordered to put situations under control and ensure safety for people and properties, Gen Chalermchai said. Those were the responsibilities of the 4th Army chief, he said. Gen Chalermchai also said that overall situations in the far South were improving and development projects and peace negotiations were making good progress there. Peace negotiators set a safety zone in the region but some parties might disagree with the development and were reacting to it in various ways. However, authorities were able to control situations, Gen Chalermchai said. (END)