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Army not helping in manhunt
Politics
Army not helping in
manhunt
ARMY chief Gen Surayuth Jalanont has not
ordered any military assistance for police
hunting fugitive amphetamine suspect
Surachai Ngernthongfoo, who has
reportedly fled to Burma, the Army
spokesman said Monday.
Col Somkhuan Saengphattharanet added
that such reports, which said that the
general had directly ordered troops from
both the 9th Infantry Division and special
forces units to hunt down the suspect into
Burmese soil, would affect Thailand's
relations with that country.
He also asked the media to double check
any report regarding the ongoing operation
which may involve the military. ''Inaccurate
news reports may result in the military's
public image being stained, apart from that
of the Army commander-in-chief,'' he
added.
Asked about the military's own intelligence
report regarding Surachai's whereabouts,
Somkhuan said it was still not known where
the fugitive is hiding, citing a well-prepared
getaway plan and abundant financial
resources as the reasons.
Meanwhile, assistant police chief Pol Gen
Noppadol Sapsomboon said arrest
warrants would be issued in the next few
days for two of Surachai's alleged
accomplices.
Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart,
asked to give a deadline for Surachai's
arrest, said it was not known whether the
suspect was still in Thailand, or under
protection of a Karen minority group on
Burmese soil.
He said he was considering asking for
cooperation from the Burmese authorities
to help locate the suspect or arrest him if
the report regarding the Karen group was
confirmed.
The Nation