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| Southeast Asia |
| Checkpoint bombings greet Thai defense minister, army chief |
| 2009-01-14 |
| Two bombs exploded on Wednesday at a Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint in this southern border province, but no one was injured in the incident occurred hours before Thai new defence minister and the army chief are scheduled to visit the Narathiwat police and other security personnel rushed to the scene and found that a bomb had damaged four aluminium computer boxes installed about 300 metres from the border. The computers are to record the number of vehicles crossing the border each day. Another bomb exploded three metres from the first blast site as the authorities were beginning to inspect the scene. There were no reports of casualties. The bombings occurred a few hours before Thailand's new defence minister retired army general Prawit Wongsuwan and Army commander-in-chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda were to visit the region. Speaking to reporters before departing, Gen. Prawit said the visit was to boost troop morale and to review the work of the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC). "The number of violent incident has receded recently as s result of increased public understanding and improved public support for local security personnel," the defence minister said. He added that Tuesday's Cabinet resolution to establish a committee tasked with developing the five southern provinces will boost efforts to tackle The premier will make a one-day visit to Yala, one of the most troubled border provinces, on Saturday. It will be his first visit since taking office in December. |
| Posted by:ryuge |