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Martial law in two Thai districts

BANGKOK: The Fourth Army Area Commander announced that martial law has been applied in the districts of Chana and Thepha in southern province of Songkhla in Thailand as of 10 a.m. on Thursday. Army Spokesman Col. Akra Pitayaroj was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that the Martial Law order does not mean that violence has spread to Songkhla but that the move is a measure to contain violence perpetrated by militant groups. In signing the order, Fourth Army Area Commander Lt. Gen. Kwanchart Klaharn said the insurgent movements have attempted to expand the target territory beyond the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat into the districts of Chana and Thepha which border these three troubled provinces. Insurgents and militants have also used the areas to store arms and as launch pads to stage violent attacks. To facilitate peace-keeping operations by the armed forces in the area, the martial law is needed to be imposed upon Chana and Thepa districts effective from 10 a.m. of November 3, 2005. The martial law will give security officials more power than the Emergency Decree. — Xinhua

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