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| Southeast Asia |
| Muslim Officer Made Thailand's First Army Chief |
| 2005-09-09 |
| BANGKOK, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Army assistant commander, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin has been promoted as the new commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, the first Muslim to be appointed to the post. The Thai government said in a statement Thursday that the appointment and other military reshuffle was endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Sonthi replaced outgoing army commander Gen Pravit Wongsuwan and will assume the post on Oct 1, this year. The appointment of the former chief of the special warfare command was regarded by many as timely as he had the experience on the battle ground and the credentials to help solve the unrest in the three southernmost Muslim dominated provinces. More than 80 per cent of the population in southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat are Muslims but more than 90 per cent of Thais are Buddhists. Since January last year, more than 800 people had died in the violence in the south as Muslim militants fought for an independent Muslim nation. Sonthi's appointment came in the midst of a diplomatic row between Thailand and Malaysia over the departure of 131 village[r]s from Narathiwat to Kelantan last week. The government has also come under attack from various quarters over an executive decree on emergency powers that gives wide power to security agencies to deal with the south problem... Meanwhile, local radio stations reported that Thailand may consider closing its southern border with Malaysia if the situation warranted. Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana told reporters that the authorities are watching closely the situation at its border crossing following the departure of the 131 people who has sought refugee status in Malaysia. Local newspapers had carried reports by Bernama that many Muslims are now in Betong waiting to cross into Pengkalan Hulu in Perak to escape from the violence-hit provinces. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #1 That is a bad idea if I have ever heard one. Where will his loyalty lie when it comes to the crunch..... |
| Posted by: nockeyes nilsworth 2005-09-09 14:01 |