BANGKOK, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Security forces in Thailand's southern provinces have been put on high alert.
According to Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, his forces are concerned about possible guerrilla attacks increasing following the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Gen. Sonthi is the country's first Muslim head of army.
TNA news agency quoted Sonthi as saying, "Muslims believe that whoever dies during Ramadan month, especially during the period when the Allah presented the Koran, they will ascend to heaven. Authorities concerned have been aware of the period and have instructed all local security units to be on highest alert and well prepared for coping with any possible further attacks by Muslim insurgents."
Sonthi dismissed concerns that insurgents might use weapons recently pilfered from village defense volunteers in the country's Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani provinces, remarking, "The incidents Wednesday night took place only because the insurgents realized that the local village defense volunteers are not as strong as the state security forces."
Interior Minister Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana added, "The Royal Thai Army will help train the village defense volunteers so that they will be stronger to protect their communities."
