ARMY TO FOCUS ON BORDER VILLAGES

Troops To Improve The Livelihood Of Community Residents

The Third Army is poised to begin deploying troops to 150 villages along
the border with Burma, in a stepped-up campaign against cross-border drug
trafficking.

Lt-Gen Udomchai Angkasingha, the Third Army chief, said the military had
been successful in using the same tactic in the past to counter communist
infiltration, and was confident the same thing could be done to stamp out
drug traffickers.

Each of the affected villages is located about 50km from the border.

Lt-Gen Udomchai said soldiers would help villagers develop their
communities in the areas of transportation, education and health.

The operation is expected to help improve the livelihood of the villagers
and turn them to the government's side.

Lt-Gen Udomchai said the presence of the soldiers would be limited to 150
villages and in nearby towns or urban communities.

Combat units would continue patrolling the border to prevent smugglers from
crossing into Thailand with drugs.

Lt-Gen Udomchai said drug trafficking along the border was likely to
continue despite intelligence reports that some drug factories had been
relocated elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is considering proposing
extra combat pay for military personnel assigned to conduct drug
suppression operations along the border.

The proposal would soon be forwarded to the cabinet for approval on the
grounds that a large number of soldiers were killed or wounded in drug
suppression operations.

Soldiers operating along the border also have to face dangers from
money-laundering operators and border intrusions.

Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has also ordered army chief Gen Surayud Chulanont
to prepare battalions with combat readiness for emergency operations.