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87-676: The Runda Kumpulan Kecil (translation: "Small Patrol Units" , RKK ) is a jihadism insurgent group operating in three southern border provinces of Thailand and some areas of Songkhla province. The RKK has been one of the most brutal and active violent groups of the South Thailand insurgency in recent years. The RKK was founded by young Salafi members of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C) in 2000 that had received military training in Indonesia . Therefore, it

174-1575: A distinctly local conflict. Over 6,500 people died and almost 12,000 were injured between 2004 and 2015 in a formerly ethnic separatist insurgency, which has currently been taken over by hard-line jihadis and pitted them against both the Thai-speaking Buddhist minority and local Muslims who have a moderate approach or who support the Thai government. Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) Dipangkorn Rasmijoti Paetongtarn Shinawatra ( PTP ) Phumtham Wechayachai ( PTP ) Suriya Juangroongruangkit ( PTP ) Anutin Charnvirakul ( BTP ) Pirapan Salirathavibhaga ( UTN ) Pichai Chunhavajira ( PTP ) Prasert Jantararuangtong ( PTP ) Wan Muhamad Noor Matha ( PCC ) Mongkol Surasajja [REDACTED] Wan Muhamad Noor Matha ( PCC ) Pichet Chuamuangphan ( PTP ) Paradorn Prissanananthakul ( BTP ) Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut ( PP ) [REDACTED] Mongkol Surasajja Kriangkrai Srirak Bunsong Noisophon President: Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul President: Prasitsak Meelarp President: Nakarin Mektrairat Diplomatic missions of / in Thailand Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Borders : Cambodia Laos Malaysia Myanmar (Maritime : India Indonesia Vietnam) Foreign aid Despite

261-402: A former massage parlour magnate turned legislator, "police reform" is a never-ending mantra which never produces results. The "cash-for-jobs" culture within the police is too deep to uproot, he says, alleging that low-ranking officers earning just US$ 460 a month tap the public for bribes, or solicit protection money from dodgy businesses to top up their salaries and buy promotions. "Rank and status

348-492: A frequent target of criticism from expatriates who decry slow service, inconsistent application of regulations, and excessive filing of paper forms. Referring to just one of scores of immigration forms, the TM6 Arrival-Departure Card, Kobsak Pootrakool , deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, admitted that, "The immigration police have to have a huge warehouse to store these papers," Kobsak said, adding that

435-668: A level of autonomy from Thailand for the Patani region and some of the separatist insurgent movements have made a series of prior demands before engaging in peace talks and negotiations. However, these groups have been largely sidelined by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional -Koordinasi (BRN-C), the group currently spearheading the insurgency. It sees no reason for negotiations and is against talks with other insurgent groups. The BRN-C has as its immediate aim to make southern Thailand ungovernable and it has largely been successful. Estimates of

522-416: A military junta ousted Thaksin in a coup d'état . The junta implemented a major policy shift by replacing Thaksin's earlier approach with a campaign to win over the "hearts and minds" of the insurgents. Despite little progress in curbing the violence, the junta declared that security was improving and that peace would come to the region by 2008. By March 2008, however, the death toll surpassed 3,000. During

609-537: A number of sites established and staffed by the BPP to train its field platoons in counterinsurgency operations. These sites include a large national facility near Hua Hin and smaller facilities in Udon Thani , Ubon Ratchathani , Chiang Mai , and Songkhla . Special Branch Bureau is a Special Branch — sometimes referred to by critics as the "political police", is responsible for controlling subversive activities and serves as

696-522: A process of Thaification which had as its objective the cultural assimilation of the Patani people, among other ethnic groups in Thailand. The National Culture Act was enforced as a result of the Thaification process, promoting the concept of "Thai-ness" and its centralist aims . Its "Mandate 3" was directly aimed at the Patani people. By 1944, Thai civil law was enforced throughout the land including

783-488: A warrant and detain them secretly at almost any location without charge for up to seven days. Bank accounts can be frozen, and documents and property can be seized. Travel can be banned. Automatic immunity for military personnel has been built into the order, and there is no independent oversight or recourse in the event of abuse. The decree basically deputises soldiers as police, but gives greater legal impunity to soldiers than to police. The order came into immediate effect and

870-463: Is an ongoing conflict centered in southern Thailand . It originated in 1948 as an ethnic and religious separatist insurgency in the historical Malay Patani Region , made up of the three southernmost provinces of Thailand and parts of a fourth, but has become more complex and increasingly violent since the early 2000s from drug cartels , oil smuggling networks , and sometimes pirate raids. The former Sultanate of Pattani , which included

957-577: Is another popular, albeit more expensive, choice. In mid-2015, Pol Gen Somyot Phumphanmuang, Royal Thai Police Commissioner, initiated a program to allow officers to purchase US-made, 9 mm SIG Sauer P320 pistols for 18,000 baht each. The Thai market price for this gun is several times higher. The affordable price is made possible by a special police exemption from import quotas and import duties. In December 2017, 150,000 SIG Sauer P320SP pistols became available for purchase by police for 23,890 baht each. The RTP will, in addition, distribute 55,000 of

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1044-549: Is constantly increasing. The priorities of the Tourist Police include cooperation with foreign nationals and the promotion of their security. According to Reuters correspondent, Andrew Marshall, "The country has a special force of Tourist Police, set up specifically so that foreigners have as little contact as possible with the ordinary police—the effect on the crucial tourism industry would be chilling." According to one source, in 2017 there were 1,700 enlisted tourist police on

1131-407: Is everything in Thailand... when you are a small policeman to go up [sic], you need to have the right boss, and preferably one at a 'golden police station'– near a casino or entertainment venue", he explained. In a 2008 article, The Economist summed up their assessment succinctly: "In Thailand's most sensational crimes, the prime suspects are often the police." In August 2015, a post was made on

1218-448: Is ongoing, but in practice, nothing is happening". He added that the country has had a couple of police reform committees, which did not amount to much when their recommendations were ignored. On 5 August 2021, the police assaulted Jeerapong Thanapat, a 24-year-old drug suspect, during an interrogation to force him to reveal hidden methamphetamines and to pay a two million baht or US$ 60,000 bribe for his release. The video appears to show

1305-535: Is still considered by some analysts as an offshoot of the Pejuang Kemerdekaan Patani connected to the BRN-C, and not as an independent organisation. The RKK is based on well-trained, ruthless and effective commando style groups, named 'small patrol units' (Runda Kumpulan Kecil) after the description of their month-long military training course. Estimates range of 500 members. Captured members have confessed to

1392-573: Is still in force as of 2020. The net result is that the military will have more power than the police and less oversight. The government has stated that the purpose of this order is to enable military officers to render their assistance in an effort to "...suppress organized crimes such as extortion, human trafficking, child and labor abuses, gambling, prostitution, illegal tour guide services, price collusion, and firearms. It neither aims to stifle nor intimidate dissenting voices. Defendants in such cases will go through normal judicial process, with police as

1479-480: Is still the police chief while having been transferred to an inactive post at the primeminister's office; on the day of the transfer, Torsak Sukvimol was in a meeting with the prime minister. As of 21 March, Police General Winai Thongsong "said [...] that he still could not confirm if the investigation would finish within the assigned 60 days or before the retirement of" Torsak Sukvimol in September. Kitrat Panphet

1566-565: Is that the sheer number of officers is staggering, roughly 250,000. This means that an increase of 5,000 baht in every cop's monthly salary would cost the government a politically untenable 15 billion baht annually. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appointed no-nonsense Police-General Somyot Poompanmoung head of the RTP following the coup of May 2014. Somyot, whose declared assets exceed US$ 11.5 million, has vowed to transfer, arrest, or prosecute all corrupt officers. But, according to Chuwit Kamolvisit,

1653-629: Is the commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, appointed in October 2024. Until the 19th century Royal Thai Armed Forces personnel, aside from their duties of national defence, also performed law enforcement duties alongside dedicated civil servants. Responsibility for law and order was divided into the six ministries led by chancellors of state (during the Ayutthaya and Thonburi eras); in time of war, police units were under royal command as part of

1740-442: Is there any other mention of her. In the words of Jomdet Trimek, a former police officer, now an academician, "In-depth studies of the causes of...corruption tend to be avoided." Jomdet attributes police corruption to two factors: a centralized police bureaucracy which gives too much power to a few; and very low police salaries. He divides police corruption into three main forms: embezzlement of government funds, coercing bribes from

1827-462: Is very little information about the leadership and structure of the RKK due to its very secretive and non-hierarchical nature. However, the group does place a lot of value on education (specifically religious education); in fact, their leader is referred to as an Ustaz (which means teacher). The only known leader of the RKK is Rorhing Ahsong, also known as Ustaz Rorhing (aka "teacher" Rorhing). In July 2006,

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1914-681: The 2014 Thai coup d'état , the junta moved to impose army control over the police for once and for all by giving soldiers power over police. On 29 March 2016, in a move that the Bangkok Post said will "...will inflict serious and long-term damage...", the NCPO , under a Section 44 order (NCPO Order 13/2559) signed by junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha , granted to commissioned officers of the Royal Thai Armed Forces broad police powers to suppress and arrest anyone they suspect of criminal activity without

2001-559: The Democrat -led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva , Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya noted a "sense of optimism" and said that he was confident of bringing peace to the region in 2010. But by the end of 2010 insurgency-related violence had increased, confounding the government's optimism. Finally in March 2011, the government conceded that violence was increasing and could not be solved in a few months. Local leaders have persistently demanded at least

2088-598: The Patani National Liberation Front (BNPP), the first Malay rebel group. At the time of their foundation the goal of the nationalist movements, such as the Patani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) established in 1968, was secession . The emphasis was laid in pursuing an armed struggle towards an independent state where Patani people could live with dignity without having alien cultural values imposed on them. The last third of

2175-491: The Sakon Nakhon Police Facebook page, allegedly from a junior officer. Among other observations the post asked, "...Are our meagre salaries enough to support our families? The answer is no. We have to borrow money and get trapped in debt. "So what about the phuyai [bigwigs]? Are they in debt too? Definitely not. They are rich. Why? Because at the end of every month, money from gambling dens, entertainment venues,

2262-655: The Thai Police after the assassination of a Buddhist monk on 16 October 2005 claimed to have connexions with the RKK. The reports that followed the arrest stated that the insurgent group members had been trained at Muslim schools in Bandung , Indonesia. On 13 February 2013, an armed group of 60 men attacked a military base in the southern part of the country, 16 of whom were killed by the army. On 4 April 2017, 12 police officers were wounded in an attack in Yala. Security personnel attributed

2349-417: The cultural heritage and practices of traditional Malay Muslims, accusing them of being unIslamic. They are not concerned about an independent separate nation. Instead, their immediate aim is to make the Patani region ungovernable. The Thai response to the insurgency has been hampered by clumsy methods, a lack of training in counter-insurgency, a lack of understanding of local culture, and rivalries between

2436-497: The 20th century saw the emergence of different insurgent groups in the south. Despite some differences in ideology they shared broadly separatist aims, but all justified the use of violence to reach their goals, setting a pattern of attacking police and military posts, as well as schools and Thai government offices. The effectiveness of these groups was marred, however, by infighting and lack of unity among them. A resurgence in violence by Pattani guerrilla groups began after 2001. While

2523-492: The City of Muang Pattani. The explosion injured approximately 40 people. On 10 May 2017 a lorry filled with explosives detonated at the same Big-C department store. The explosion injured approximately 40 people, bringing the total from the two attacks to 80. On 25 August 2009 a car bomb exploded outside of a restaurant in downtown Muang. There were no reported fatalities, but there were approximately 43 injuries. Two supposed members of

2610-524: The Metropolitan Police. Quasi-military in character, the TNPD was headed by a director general, who held the rank of police general. He was assisted by three deputy directors general and five assistant directors general, all of whom held the rank of police lieutenant general. Throughout the TNPD system, all ranks except the lowest (constable) corresponded to those of the army. The proliferation of high ranks in

2697-448: The Muslim populace. Attacks after 2001 concentrated on installations of the police and military. Schools and other symbols of Thai authority in the region have been subject to arson and bombing as well. Local police officers of all ranks and government officials were the primary targets of seemingly random assassinations, with 19 policemen killed and 50 incidents related to the insurgency in

Runda Kumpulan Kecil - Misplaced Pages Continue

2784-514: The Office of the Ombudsman , Thailand reported on its activities since its inception. Chief Ombudsman Panit Nitithanprapas noted that her office had handled nearly 25,000 cases during the period and observed that the Royal Thai Police had been found to be "the most corrupt agency in Thailand". Curiously, Ms Panit's photo does not appear among those of other former ombudsmen on the organisation's website, nor

2871-519: The Patani region, over-riding earlier concessions to local Islamic administrative practices. The school curriculum was revised to be Thai-centric, with all lessons in the Thai language , to the detriment of the local Jawi . Traditional Muslim courts that formerly handled civil cases were removed and replaced with civil courts run and approved by the central government in Bangkok. This forced assimilation process and

2958-621: The Patani rulers largely alone. Thai rule over the historical Patani region was confirmed by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 . Until well into the 20th century, the government in Bangkok had interfered little locally, relying on local officials for the implementation of policies within the Patani region. This included an exemption in implementing Thai Civil Law, which had allowed Muslims to continue their observance of local Islamic laws regarding issues on inheritance and family. However, by 1934 Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram set in motion of

3045-585: The Phra Saeng sword (พระแสงดาบ) and the all evil-warding Chaturmuk (จตุรมุข) shield. In 1915 the provincial and urban police forces were united as one national organization under the Ministry of Interior (established 1894). Originally modeled on the pre–World War II national police force of Japan, the TNPD was reorganized several times to meet changing public order and internal security needs. American advice, training, and equipment, which were provided from 1951 through

3132-537: The RKK were arrested in connexion with the explosion. On 22 December 2013 a car filled with explosives exploded outside of the Oliver Hotel in Danok, Songkhla Province. Two were killed and 25 others were injured. The explosion was one of multiple bombings that occurred in the area that day. The RKK group has been involved in numerous arson, bombing and murder attacks in the past decade. Seventeen suspects who were arrested by

3219-562: The RTP operate seven leased electric patrol cars used to protect "VVIPs". "They will replace the Mercedes-Benz A Class and will be used in the government's VVIP's motorcade", a spokesman explained. Royal Thai Police vehicle colors vary widely according to grade, region, and kind of duty performed. Bangkok metropolitan police vehicles are black and white . Provincial police vehicles are maroon and white while highway police are maroon and yellow. There are no standard-issue pistols carried by

3306-706: The Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA), founded in 1901, in 2009. It has since graduated about 700 female officers. Starting with the class to be admitted for the 2019 academic year, the 280 places formerly reserved for females will be scrapped. Earlier in 2018, the RTP prohibited women from "inquiry official" roles. The rationale given was that women are hindered by domestic responsibilities, therefore less effective than male officers. Women will still be able to become police officers via other avenues. For example, women with law degrees will continue to be recruited. National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda attributed

3393-510: The Royal Thai Police (RTP) arrested two supposed members of the RKK, one of which was Sapee-aree Jekhor. He is thought to be a very important member of the group, however, the extent of his participation is still unknown. Zulkifli Abdhir (also Zulfiki Bin Hir, Marwan, etc.) was thought to have been associated with the RKK, although the link is still uncertain. The RKK predominately resorts to bombings as their main form of attack. From 2008 (the year of

3480-576: The Royal Thai Police". Thailand's police forces number about 230,000 officers. About eight percent (18,400) are female. For comparison, in the Philippines the percentage of female police officers is 20 percent, 18 percent in Malaysia, and 30 percent in Sweden which hold the world's highest percentage of female police officers. Of 8,000 investigators with the RTP, 400 are women. Females were first admitted to

3567-488: The Royal Thai Police. Policemen must buy their own pistol and he/she must buy what is available in Thailand and what he/she can afford. If the police officer cannot afford a pistol, he may purchase one by paying in installments through his police co-operative. One of the most popular police pistols is the M1911A1 . 45 ACP pistol which can be found readily and relatively cheaply in Thailand. The 9 mm Glock 19 9mm parabellum

Runda Kumpulan Kecil - Misplaced Pages Continue

3654-577: The SIG P320SP are the standard service pistols. Royal Thai Police uniforms vary widely according to rank, region, and kind of duty performed. Among the police, uniforms tend to resemble army dress rather than conventional police uniforms. Considered part of the police "uniform", all male officers are required to shave the sides and back of their heads, leaving a short crop of hair on the top, hence its common name, ( Thai : ขาวสามด้าน ; RTGS :  khao sam dan ), or 'three white sides'. The models for

3741-626: The TNPD organizational structure, as in the military, indicated the political impact of the police on national life. In 1998, TNPD was transferred from the Ministry of Interior of Thailand to be directly under the Office of the Prime Minister . It acquired a new name, in English, the "Royal Thai Police" (RTP). The title of its commander was changed from "Director-General of the TNPD" to "Commissioner-General of

3828-524: The Thai Police's major intelligence organization , as well as the unit responsible for VIP protection. Tourist Police Bureau was elevated from the Tourist Police Division under Central Investigation Bureau in 2017. The creation of the Tourist Police is due to the fact that the tourism and entertainment industry in Thailand is growing every year, and the number of people arriving in the country

3915-446: The Thai authorities that they routinely flee to Malaysia after carrying out violent attacks in Yala , Pattani or Narathiwat Province . Although several RKK members have been arrested or killed by the Thai military or police in the past decade, it is very difficult for those involved in counterinsurgency to penetrate the structure of the group owing to its secrecy and great mobility. There

4002-518: The army. Only during the reigns of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) did the nation see a huge reform and the Westernization of Thai law enforcement forces to adapt to the changing situation and needs of the country. By 1902, the Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA) was founded to train future police officers. In the same year, King Chulalongkorn granted the Police its own symbol using

4089-930: The attack to the RKK . On 22 August 2017, police arrested a man in his 30s who is a supposed member of the RKK. The Thai media stated that he was suspected of taking part in the attack on six lorries on 16 August 2017. A top member of the group called Sobueri Jehe was killed by security forces. Between c. 2000 and April 2018 the group lost some 39 members. South Thailand insurgency Ongoing [REDACTED]   Thailand [REDACTED]   Islamic State Drug cartels Oil smugglers Mayaki Yako Xaysana Kaewpimpa (arrested) Usman Slamang (fugitive) Rafed Lumbok (fugitive) [REDACTED]   Royal Thai Army [REDACTED]   Royal Thai Navy [REDACTED]   Royal Thai Air Force Border Patrol Police The Southern Thailand Insurgency ( Thai : ความไม่สงบในชายแดนภาคใต้ของประเทศไทย ; Malay : Pemberontakan di Selatan Thailand )

4176-530: The attacks resulted in four fatalities each, and one attack resulted in five fatalities. As of 2017, 63 deaths and 403 injuries have been attributed to the RKK. On 25 July 2012 a police transport of the Royal Thai Police travelling through the Raman District (in the Yala Province) exploded from a roadside bomb. This left five officers dead and one wounded. Of the 171 incidents reported from 2008 to 2017, this

4263-618: The barring of women from the RPCA to a new Ministry of Defence ruling that all RPCA cadets must undergo an initial period of training at the male-only Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS). Critics say the new policy violates the 2015 Gender Equality Act, the constitution, Thailand's 20 year national strategy, as well as international conventions that prohibit gender discrimination. The Thai police are subdivided into several regions and services, each wielding their own powers. Responsible for providing all law enforcement services for

4350-700: The border areas: The RTP Education Bureau is responsible for training police personnel in the latest methods of law enforcement and the use of modern weapons. It operates the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Sam Phran District , Nakhon Pathom Province , for the officer corps, the detective training school at Bang Kaen, the Metropolitan Police Training School at Bang Kaen, and the Provincial Police training centers at Nakhon Pathom, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Yala. The bureau also supervises

4437-486: The capital city of Bangkok and its suburbs, the Metropolitan Police Bureau is probably the most visible and publicly recognizable of all Thai police components. This largely uniformed urban force operates under the command of a chief who holds the rank of police lieutenant general assisted by six deputy chiefs. Organizationally, the force consists of three divisions, each responsible for police services in one of

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4524-419: The early 1970s, did much to introduce new law enforcement concepts and practices and to aid in the modernization of the TNPD. During this era the strength and effectiveness of the police grew steadily. All components of the police system were administered by the TNPD headquarters in Bangkok, which also provided technical support for law enforcement activities throughout the kingdom. The major operational units of

4611-547: The ethnic affinity of the people of the Patani region with their Malay neighbours to the south, the old Patani Kingdom was led by sultans who historically preferred to pay tribute to the distant Siamese kings in Bangkok. For many centuries the King of Siam restricted himself to exacting a periodic tribute in the form of Bunga mas , ritual trees with gold leaves and flowers that were a symbolic acknowledgment of Siamese suzerainty , leaving

4698-410: The first reported incident) to 2017, the group has conducted 171 attacks. Approximately 133 of these (78 per cent) were bombings. After this, armed assault is the second most used type of attack; however, only 28 of these (16 per cent) have been by this method. The remaining attacks are facility/infrastructure (11 attacks), hijacking (5 attempts), and assassinations (2 attempts). Civilians are most often

4785-558: The force were the Provincial Police, the Border Patrol Police (BPP), the Metropolitan Police, and smaller specialized units supervised by the Central Investigation Bureau. In mid-1987 the total strength of the TNPD, including administrative and support personnel, was estimated at roughly 110,000. Of this number, over one-half were assigned to the Provincial Police and some 40,000 to the BPP. More than 10,000 served in

4872-685: The force. As of 2019 the agency has 2,000 officers and 70 tourist police cars for use nationwide. As of 2023 , the RTP has a fleet of some 62 aircraft including a six passenger, 1.14 billion baht (US$ 37 million) police jet, a Dassault Falcon 2000S. The Royal Thai Police, especially the provincial forces, extensively uses pickup trucks and SUVs . For traffic regulation and patrolling in cities, sedans and motorcycles are also used. Highway police vehicles generally also have equipment like speed radars, breath analyzers, and emergency first aid kits. They also use tuk-tuks , minivans , bicycles, all-terrain vehicles , boats, and helicopters. As of April 2020 ,

4959-419: The haircut are the royal guards who protect King Vajiralongkorn . They are known for their short haircuts, required by the monarch. "It's a royal practice," a retired police general said. "...we are all serving His Majesty the King...It looks beautiful...It doesn't hurt anyone." Clashes between the police and army bureaucracies date back at least as far as 1936 and continue to the present day. The intensity of

5046-497: The highly centralized control system that required decisions on most matters to emanate from the various police bureaus of the (then) TNPD headquarters in Bangkok. A reorganization of the TNPD in 1978 and 1979 gave more command authority to the four police lieutenant generals who served as regional commissioners of the Provincial Police. Thereafter, the senior officers of each region not only controlled all provincial police assigned to their respective geographic areas but also directed

5133-614: The infighting has waxed and waned over the years. Since 1947, according to academic Paul Chambers, "...the army has time and again attempted to rein in the police. In many cases, it has resorted to coups." In the 1950s, the rivalry took a comical turn as an arms race developed between the army—supplied by the US military—and the RTP—supplied by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The vitriol intensified in 2016 when, following

5220-560: The insurgents make a show of strength—generally at least every few months—they have eschewed large-scale attacks, preferring well-coordinated pinprick assaults at many locations while avoiding direct clashes with security forces. Thai Police In regard to who is chief: as of 24 June 2024, the prime minister "has yet to approve Torsak's reinstatement. Earlier that month, media said that Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief. Earlier (20 March 2024), Kitrat Panphet became acting police chief; however, Torsak Sukvimol

5307-631: The king and visiting dignitaries and served as a riot-control force to prevent demonstrations and to disperse unruly crowds in Bangkok. A 40,000 person paramilitary force. The BPP and the PARU were largely creations of the US CIA . In the late-1950s and 1960s, "The BPP and PARU were integral in U.S. and Thai counterinsurgency efforts." The BPP, other than protecting the borders, countered "infiltration and subversion..." and operated "as guerrilla forces in enemy held areas" such as northeast and southern Thailand. The PARU

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5394-420: The large volume of attacks, the RKK's reported death rate is fairly low. Of the 171 reported incidents, 136 (80 per cent) had zero fatalities. 34 attacks resulted in at least one fatality but none of the attacks resulted in more than five fatalities. Twenty of the attacks resulted in one fatality each, five of the attacks resulted in two fatalities each, four of the attacks resulted in three fatalities each, four of

5481-524: The largest of the Royal Thai Police operational components in both personnel and geographic responsibility. It is headed by a commander who reported to the police commissioner-general, and administered through four police regions—geographic areas of responsibility similar to those of the army regional commands. This force provides police services to every town and village throughout the kingdom except metropolitan Bangkok and border areas. The Provincial Police thus handled law enforcement activities and in many cases

5568-566: The main investigator...trial[s] will be conducted in civilian courts, not military ones. Moreover, this order does not deprive the right of the defendants to file complaints against military officers who have abused their power." The NCPO said that the reason for its latest order is that there are simply not enough police, in spite of the fact that there are about 230,000 officers in the Royal Thai Police force. They make up about 17 percent of all non-military public servants. This amounts to 344 cops for every 100,000 persons in Thailand, more than twice

5655-579: The new insurgency. While earlier attacks were typified by drive-by shootings in which patrolling policemen were shot by gunmen on passing motorcycles, after 2001 they have escalated to well-coordinated attacks on police establishments, with police stations and outposts ambushed by well-armed groups subsequently fleeing with stolen arms and ammunition. Other tactics used to gain publicity from shock and horror are slashing to death Buddhist monks, bombing temples, beheadings , intimidating pork vendors and their customers, as well as arson attacks on schools, killing

5742-504: The new pistols to police stations nationwide, each station receiving 60. Although the RTP does not issue pistols, long guns are made available by the government. Common are the Heckler & Koch MP5 and FN P90 sub-machine guns, Remington 870 shotguns, the M4 carbine , and M16 rifles . Used by Arintharat 26 Special Operation Unit and Naresuan 261 Special Operation Unit The Glock 19MS and

5829-483: The perceived imposition of Thai-Buddhist cultural practices upon their society were irritants to the ethnic Malay Patani. In 1947, Haji Sulong , founder of the Patani People's Movement , launched a petition campaign, demanding autonomy, language, and cultural rights, and implementation of Islamic law. In January 1948, Sulong was arrested on treason charges along with other local leaders branded as "separatist". Sulong

5916-426: The police and the army. Many local policemen are allegedly involved in the local drug trade and other criminal activities, and army commanders from Bangkok treat them with disdain. Often the army responds to the attacks with heavy-handed raids to search Muslim villages, which only results in reprisals. Insurgents routinely provoke the inexperienced Thai government into disproportionate responses, generating sympathy among

6003-479: The police rarely look at the information in the forms, which are only stored "just in case". The government expects a 20 million visitors to Thailand this year, each required to complete a TM6 form. The form will be replaced by mobile phone app in 2019. Narcotics Suppression Bureau is the lead agency for counter-narcotics investigations in Thailand. The RTP operates 9 fixed wing and 54 rotary-wing aircraft: Responsible for medical and healthcare-related services for

6090-581: The police, including forensic science and autopsies . It is headquartered at Police General Hospital in Pathum Wan District, Bangkok and operates Dara Rasmi Hospital in Chiang Mai, Nawutti Somdet Ya Hospital in Bangkok and Yala Sirirattanarak Hospital in Yala. It also operates the Institute of Forensic Science which trains a number of residents in forensic science each year. The Provincial Police form

6177-509: The public, and collection of protection money from illegal business operators and gives examples of each. At the level of constable, this petty thievery is driven by low wages: entry level salaries for police with no university education was 6,800 baht (2012). In June 2015, the Bangkok Post reported that, "Thai police officers are paid around 14,760 baht per month (6,800–8,340 baht for entry level) and have to buy their own guns and even office supplies." He posits that one reason salaries are so low

6264-434: The railroad, highway, marine, and forestry police units operating there, without going through the chain of command to the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. Although this change increased the workload of the regional headquarters, it resulted in greater efficiency and improved law enforcement. The Provincial Police Division is divided into 10 regions covering the 76 provinces of Thailand except metropolitan Bangkok and

6351-587: The ratio in Myanmar and the Philippines, one and a half times that of Japan and Indonesia, and roughly the same proportion as the United States. In a joint statement released on 5 April 2016, six groups, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International , and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), condemned the move. On the occasion of the festivities surrounding its 12th anniversary,

6438-464: The region for decades, the campaign escalated after 2001, with a recrudescence in 2004, and has occasionally spilled over into other provinces. Incidents blamed on southern insurgents have occurred in Bangkok and Phuket. In July 2005, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra assumed wide-ranging emergency powers to deal with the southern violence, but the insurgency escalated further. On 19 September 2006,

6525-509: The region's traditional separatist insurgents had flags, and leaders, claimed responsibility for the attacks, and made communiques, the new groups attacked more viciously and kept silent. This new development disoriented and confused the Thai authorities, who kept groping in the dark as the identity of the new insurgents in the conflict remained a mystery. Thailand held relatively free elections in February 2005, but no secessionist candidates contested

6612-687: The results in the south. In July of the same year, the chairman of the Narathiwat Islamic Committee admitted, "The attacks look like they are well-organised, but we do not know what group of people is behind them." Despite the shroud of anonymity and the absence of concrete demands, revived groups, such as the GMIP , and particularly the BRN-Coordinate and its alleged armed wing, the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), have been identified as leading

6699-544: The sex trade, human trafficking, drugs and whatnot are routinely sent to them." The post was immediately deleted. Then the Facebook page was deleted altogether. The supervisor of the junior policeman in charge of the page said it was all a technical mistake. Someone had hacked into the page to write the message to taint the image of the police force. In the view of Rangsit University 's Associate Professor Police Lieutenant Colonel Krisanaphong Poothakool, "We hear that police reform

6786-483: The southern Thai provinces of Pattani (Patani), Yala (Jala), Narathiwat (Menara)—also known as the three Southern Border Provinces (SBP) —as well as neighbouring parts of Songkhla Province (Singgora), and the northeastern part of Malaysia ( Kelantan ), was conquered by the Kingdom of Siam in 1785 and, except for Kelantan, has been governed by Thailand ever since. Although low-level separatist violence had occurred in

6873-458: The strength of the insurgency vary greatly. In 2004, General Pallop Pinmanee claimed that there were only 500 hardcore jihadists. Other estimates say there as many as 15,000 armed insurgents. Around 2004, some Thai analysts believed that foreign Islamic terrorist groups were infiltrating the area, and that foreign funds and arms were being brought in, though again, such claims were balanced by an equally large body of opinion suggesting this remains

6960-463: The teachers —mostly female— and burning their bodies. In rare cases, Pattani guerrilla groups had also threaten Thai Christians. Current insurgent groups proclaim militant jihadism and are not separatist anymore. Mostly led by Salafist hardliners, they have extreme and transnational religious goals, such as an Islamic Caliphate , to the detriment of a constructive cultural or nationalistic Patani identity . Salafi jihadist groups are hostile to

7047-517: The three provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat by the end of 2001. School teachers have been a prime target. The BRN-C, through its Pejuang Kemerdekaan Patani paramilitary wing, has been the main group behind the murder of 157 teachers in the Southern Border Provinces between 2004 and 2013. A massive security presence in the region has failed to stem almost daily violence, usually involving drive-by shootings or small bombings. When

7134-489: The three urban areas: northern Bangkok, southern Bangkok, and Thonburi . As of 2019 , there are 88 police stations across the capital, each with 30-200 police officers attached to it. In addition to covering the city with foot patrols, the Metropolitan Police maintains motorized units, a canine corps, building guards , traffic-control specialists, and law enforcement personnel trained to deal with juveniles. The Traffic Police Division also provides escorts and guards of honor for

7221-410: The victims of attacks made by the RKK; however, businesses and the police are also major targets: 29 per cent of the reported attacks targeted civilians, 20 per cent targeted businesses, and 18 per cent targeted the police. The remaining attacks targeted the military (23 attacks), utilities (19 attacks), transportation (9 attacks), educational institutions (8 attacks), and government (7 attacks). Despite

7308-485: Was a small unit used on clandestine missions outside Thailand. The national coordinating headquarters has jurisdiction over the entire country. The CIB was organized to assist both provincial and metropolitan components of the Royal Thai Police in preventing and suppressing criminal activity and in minimizing threats to national security. The Immigration Bureau is responsible for issuing travel visas and managing entry and departure in Thailand. The Immigration Police are

7395-412: Was released from jail in 1952, then disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1954. Denied recognition as a culturally separate ethnic minority, Patani leaders reacted against the Thai government policy towards them. Inspired by ideologies such as Nasserism , in the 1950s a Patani nationalist movement began to grow, leading to the south Thailand insurgency. By 1959, Tengku Jalal Nasir established

7482-461: Was the RKK's most deadly incident. On 18 November 2012 a train travelling through the City of Reuso (in the Narithiwat Province) derailed as a result of a bomb planted under the track. After the train derailed, a group of assailants began to shoot into the train cars. There were three confirmed deaths and approximately 36 injuries. On 9 May 2017 a bomb exploded in a Big-C department store in

7569-402: Was the principal representative of the central government's authority in much of the country. During the 1960s and early-1970s, as the police assumed an increasing role in counterinsurgency operations, a lack of coordination among security forces operating in the rural areas became apparent. Observers noted that the overall police effort suffered because of conflicting organizational patterns and

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