Provincial governors to increase efforts to deal with unidentified drones

The Thai Second Region Army is treating the increasing number of unidentified drones, being spotted along the Thai-Cambodian border, as a potential security threat and has ordered the governors of 20 northeastern provinces to take all necessary steps to deal decisively with the problem.

At a meeting with the governors, via video conference on Saturday, Lt-Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region, instructed them to procure anti-drone systems and to coordinate closely with the police and the public over reporting drones in their neighborhoods.

He noted that the priorities are drones seen flying over provincial halls, police stations, bus terminals, airports and arms depots, adding that everyone should watch out for strangers in their communities.

Lt-Gen Boonsin admitted that it still unclear who are responsible for releasing the drones. He said that it could be Cambodian soldiers or members of scam gangs in Cambodia, adding that, whoever they are, they will be dealt with harshly.

In Si Sa Ket, one of the provinces struck by Cambodian artillery shells a last week, the provincial administration has issued an urgent order to all district chiefs, instructing them to advise displaced people taking refuge at shelters not to return home yet, even though the ceasefire has already taken effect.

Local administration officials, village chiefs and village defense volunteer units have been instructed to increase routine patrols and to report any suspicious objects to the police immediately.