Article 109

Soldiers not amused by Chettha's advice

Riding backwards on bikes not popular

WASSANA NANUAM

Defence Minister Chettha Thanajaro's advice that soldiers riding motorcycle pillion should face backwards while patrolling in the South has not gone down well.

They complain they lose their balance.

Gen Chettha suggested in August that soldiers on motorcycle patrol in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces sit back-to-back so that they can guard against gunmen coming up behind them.

Soldiers have tried to follow his advice and even modified the pillion footrests to make sitting backwards easier, but say it doesn't work.

``It's good that we have a rear view and can see if anyone is approaching from behind, but it's uncomfortable,'' said Sgt- Maj Withaya Meechalee, 44.

``The pillion seat does not support the backward position.``It's also difficult for the driver to make a turn because on a motorcycle this requires the driver and passenger to coordinate a weight shift.

``We have tried to sit backward and fire in this position. Both the driver and the pillion rider must work as one,'' he said.

His 21-year-old buddy, Pvt Suriya Trisri, has been patrolling with him for the last five months in Pattani.



Pvt Nern Manaosri, from Ubon Ratchathani also emphasised the need for teamwork.

``We must help each other,'' he said. ``If there is an incident, the driver will continue driving and I will shoot. I must be ready to shoot in every circumstance, even shooting while standing.''

His buddy, Pvt David Paden, 22, comes from the same northeastern province.

Northeastern soldiers seem to get along well with villagers in Pattani, who have asked Her Majesty the Queen to ensure they stay in the province.

As a result, the 790 soldiers of the first battalion of the 6th Infantry Regiment in Ubon Ratchathani who were scheduled to move to Cho Airong and Sungai Padi districts of Narathiwat province were instead reassigned to Pattani to meet the villagers' demand. Fourth Army commander Lt-Gen Pisarn Wattanawongkeeree said the Ubon Ratchathani soldiers had worked in East Timor and been well accepted there. He had intended to send the soldiers to the areas where locals do not cooperate with the authorities, but changed his mind when Pattani people made their feelings clear.

Sgt Sathit Krongyuth, also of Ubon Ratchathani, said villagers informed soldiers of developments, talked to them and regularly provided food and sweets.

``It is probably because northeastern soldiers are straightforward. We speak frankly and villagers seem to like this. We talk over the radio to create understanding with villagers every day,'' he said.

Phra Sathit Athitano, a 37-year-old monk at Wat Ma Krud temple in Khok Pho district of Pattani, said northeastern soldiers were honest and good-tempered and always assisted in local activities.

Villagers liked this and did not want to spend time building up trust with a new lot of soldiers, the monk said.

Now the important issue for the northeastern troops is that they are running out of pla ra, fermented fish, which is one of their favourite dishes.

The soldiers brought packs of fermented fish with them when they arrived in Pattani in May, but the supply is running out.

Sgt Sathit said fermented fish was rare in the South because locals do not eat it.

``Eating Pla Ra makes us feel as if we are home. It's our favourite food and we must have it every day,'' he said.