Monks bless the troops and
hand out amulets for luck before the troops leave for the south.
Patcharapol Panrak
More than 300 Royal Thai Marines departed Sattahip
for Thailand’s strife-torn southern provinces as the military shuffles
its personnel in the area.
Rear Adm. Noppadol Suphakorn addressed the 320 troops
slated for duty in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat at Prince Jetsada Camp
Sept. 24. The soldiers are relieving marines on duty for the past year
in a region of Thailand where nearly 4,000 people have been killed since
2004 in a Muslim separatist insurgency.
The troops from the Airport Security Battalion, Air
and Coastal Defense Command, Koh Kood special forces, Koh Miang Monitor
and Report Wave Movement, and Water Radar Surveillance and have been
trained in languages, culture and tradition, as well as for guerilla
warfare.
Before departing, monks from five area temples
blessed the troops and handed out amulets while family and friends
offered flowers as they said their goodbyes.
