Thai army chief urges New Year revellers to follow the laws

BANGKOK, December 28 (TNA) - Thai Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisat suggests that New Year revellers follow traffic laws for the sake of public safety during the ongoing festivity and wishes all Thais to have improved quality of life in 2018. General Chalermchai told journalists on December 27 that the Royal Thai Army has been fully-prepared to provide security and facilitations for New Year celebrants by setting up checkpoints on highways and minor roads across the country, as instructed by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also Defence Minister. General Chalermchai said the security service provided by the Royal Thai Army focuses on minor routes where road accidents were higher-slated in previous years, urging, however, that drivers and people observe traffic laws, including driving within legal limits, for the public safety. According to the army commander-in-chief, the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has issued an order on "no drunk driving, or your cars seized" during the ongoing New Year Festival. The army chief noted that all seized cars will be taken best care pending the return to owners through installed close circuit televisions (CCTVs) that will function around the clock. The army chief revealed that he has also ordered tight security measures at border areas across the country, particularly those in the troubled Thai Far South, to prevent any untoward incident or drug trafficking or other cross-border crime during New Year celebrations currently. (TNA)