BANGKOK: Lt Gen Weerayut Raksin, commander of the Second Army Area, said he visited troops along the Thailand-Cambodia border in Surin province to inspect their welfare and readiness amid ongoing tensions.
He said all personnel deployed along the frontier were prepared to face combat around the clock and enjoyed high morale.
The army had made comprehensive arrangements to supply food, drinking water and other essentials, he added, and there had been no shortages despite difficulties on some routes caused by heavy recent rains.
“Every member of the force remains determined to protect the nation’s sovereignty and its people. We will not cede an inch of Thai territory — not even a single square centimetre,” Weerayut said.
He said incursions and video clips posted on social media required careful verification.
“We must handle such incidents with precision and caution, as some of the locations in question are far from our operational bases and considered sensitive areas,” he added.
The army has deployed technological monitoring to bolster patrols, but in some cases the devices were not positioned along the same routes as troops, so soldiers did not always directly witness Cambodian personnel entering to lay landmines or cut barbed wire.
“I have instructed all troops to respond to anyone who enters Thai territory armed and violates our sovereignty,” he said.
“If Cambodian soldiers cross into Thailand with weapons and destroy property, we cannot tolerate it under any circumstance. Our forces are authorised to respond in accordance with the rules of engagement as the situation demands.” - The Nation/ANN
