Has anyone else noticed a sharp increase in the local involvment of the army recently? Out here in the Nong Wor Sor, Non Wai and Nong Orr areas, since last Saturday we have had army road blocks on the major roads. This is serious stuff with the soldiers sporting AK47's, wearing flak jackets and the road block having large (Anti-tank?) concrete blocks. Very reminiscent of Belfast in the old days.Even digging trenches. The local police either don't know, or aren't saying whats going on, so even I am in the dark. Are other areas experiencing this movement?

They are probably watching you and Stan very closely.

Anyone expand on this rather disturbing development?

Doc wrote:They are probably watching you and Stan very closely.

yes he's a very dodgy guy

I don't think frivolity is needed here. This is a serious developement, consider these facts. We are at least 150kms from the nearest border, not on a recognised approach road, so it is unlikely to be a perceived threat from a neighbouring country. The army personnel are wearing flak jackets, so they must think they are likely to be shot at. They are bearing military assault weapons.Who do they think are the potential targets? If it was a law enforcement exercise, why the military, not the police?The questions they ask are the normal, where you go, where you come from sort.As far as I have seen, there is no vehicle search. Whats the point? Scare tactics?
Not having heard of similar check points elsewhere, I assume its purely local. Why? Very worrying

i know its the other end of the country but any connection anywhere local with the hostility's in the south.... just a thought.

How about just a training exercise?

shh, but rumor has it that are x pm might be trying to sneak into the country. Maybe in the hopes of saving his wife.

[quote="beer monkey"]i know its the other end of the country but any connection anywhere local with the hostility's in the south.... just a thought.[/quot
No obvious connection, but last evening army personnel visited all local businesses advising them on security, check bins, packages lying around etc.
So it does seem to be connected to similar incidents down south.

skipvice wrote:How about just a training exercise?

Training for what? Civilian insurgents.?

valentine wrote:

skipvice wrote:How about just a training exercise?

Training for what? Civilian insurgents.?

Thaksin supporters,or maybe the Bangkok bombers,just can't decide whether to go North or South!Mai Phen Rai

I wasn't really seeking speculation on this, I am capable of doing my own. What I really wanted to know was, is it confined to my locality , or have others elsewhere noticed this activity.It would seem not, so it must have a local connection.Thanks anyway everyone that replied.

Valentine,according to the Bangkok Post over the last couple of weeks the Army commanders in each district in the north of the country have been given new powers with the lead up to the thaksin corruption hearings about to begin. Bangkok is worried about the huge support that the farming community still have for thaksin,and some say there are ellements in the North who are willing to go to extremes to show there support and cause more head aches for the interim government. However it is still possible they are simply going through some dress rehearsals before deployment to the South.

Aardvark wrote:Valentine,according to the Bangkok Post over the last couple of weeks the Army commanders in each district in the north of the country have been given new powers with the lead up to the thaksin corruption hearings about to begin. Bangkok is worried about the huge support that the farming community still have for thaksin,and some say there are ellements in the North who are willing to go to extremes to show there support and cause more head aches for the interim government. However it is still possible they are simply going through some dress rehearsals before deployment to the South.

Yes I would tend to go with the first theory, but would have expected a wider deployment.

Dakoda wrote:shh, but rumor has it that our x PM might be trying to sneak back into the country. Maybe in the hopes of saving his wife.

Thanks for the size increase


Val, you are all alone on this one Best stay inside