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Army launches website to counter separatist propaganda |
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Bangkok Post
By Wassana Nanuam and Supaphong Chaolan
November 4, 2005
The army has opened a new website on the southern insurgency to counter the internet propaganda of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) separatist group. Army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Pulo was waging psychological warfare through the internet, calling for independence for the three southernmost provinces.
Other separatist groups such as the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) and the Geragan Mujahideen Islam Pattani (GMIP) has also launched propaganda campaigns.
''It's pointless to close down the separatist websites. The separatist groups will just open new ones,'' he said.
''Solving problems by creating understanding with the people through use of ideology is a better way.''
With this in mind, the army has set up a new website _ www.southpeace.go.th.
Gen Sonthi said 98-99% of people in the deep South do not support the separatist movement. There were 4,000 to 5,000 insurgents in the three southern provinces _ or two for each village in a red zone, the areas most heavily infiltrated by separatists.
Meanwhile, the military said the number of young Buddhist and Muslim men in the South who have applied for paramilitary ranger service this year is beyond all expectations. Most applicants said they wanted to join up out of a sense of patriotism and did not fear death.
Lt-Col Sirichan Nga-thong, army deputy spokeswoman, said that only two days into the application period more than 200 young men have applied at the 45th paramilitary regiment based in Narathi- wat's Cho Airong district, where only 148 men will be selected.
Other paramilitary regiments in the other southernmost provinces were also recruiting, she said. The 43rd paramilitary regiment in Pattani wanted 148 new rangers and the 41st paramilitary regiment in Yala will recruit 80. There are now about 2,200 rangers working in the South.
Lt-Col Sirichan said it is the first time the army has recruited rangers in the three southernmost provinces.
Allowances and welfare benefits have been increased to make the job more attractive. New rangers will each get a basic 4,230 baht a month, plus a 2,770 baht cost-of-living allowance, a 2,500 baht risk allowance, a 450 baht war-risk stipend and a 180 baht monthly allowance. They also get a one million baht life insurance package. Sources said the total budget cost would be 1.5 to two million baht.
Col Narongwit Chusangkit, commander of the 45th paramilitary regiment, said all applicants are given medical and criminal record checks. Applications were scheduled for Nov 1 to 30, but as the response was so good it may now close on Nov 15.
Paramilitary rangers will also abandon their black uniforms and don jungle green uniforms like other soldiers.
''The new uniforms are aimed at creating a new image for the rangers,'' Col Narongwit said. ''Wearing black makes people fear them and they think that we are cruel or favour the use of violence.'' |
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