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Thai Military Ready for Combat If Border Talks Fail: Commander
Supreme Commander of Thai Armed Forces Sampao Chusri has said the Royal Thai Armed Forces wanted to see the Thai-Myanmar border problem end in a peaceful manner, but reiterated they are ready for combat if the ongoing talks to ease the tension failed, the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported Friday.
Speaking after the meeting of top-brass officers to discuss the border situation on Thursday, he said commanders of the three armed forces were told to keep their forces on alert for any untoward incidents.
He pledged the military would make an all-out effort to defend the country and protect people's lives and property.
On an accusation by Yangon that Thai troops give moral and military support to the ethnic Shan guerrillas, Sampao said the military had never backed any ethnic groups in Myanmar.
The Thai government clearly stated in the foreign policy it would not allow any persons to use Thai territory for actions against their enemies, he stressed.
So, the Thai troops had expelled Myanmar soldiers whenever the latter invaded into the Thai frontier, Sampao noted.
"We have tried to talk with Myanmar officials to settle border conflicts to our utmost. But, if the Myanmar continues to take cross-border military action as happened in the border town of Mae Sai which killed two people, we have no choice but to retaliate," said Sampao.
The supreme commander said he believed the border situation would ease if the incoming government has a clear policy on ways to solve problems arising along the border of the two countries.
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