By Thai Newsroom Reporters
ALL COMMERCIAL AND private drones are literally stopped from flying for the time being in some of the Thai provinces primarily for security reasons in the wake of Thai-Cambodian border clashes.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand today (July 30) issued a directive to indefinitely prohibit owners of all commercial and private drones from flying their aerial vehicles in 14 provinces including some where fighting in disputed border areas has occurred and others in vicinity.
That refers to the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Buriram and Nakhon Ratchasima as well as the eastern provinces of Sakaeo, Prachinburi, Chanthaburi and Trat and the central provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Lopburi, Chainart, Pichit and Petchabun.
Drones could possibly be fitted with equipment to not only conduct reconnaissance but collect intelligence, especially from the Thai air force’s air bases, and even armed with bombs and machine guns.
In particular, the authorities may take pre-emptive measures by literally destroying any drones located in a nine-km radius of some of the Thai air force’s air bases where security measures have been considerably stepped up with the high-alert situation stemming from the fighting along the border.
Drone owners who might violate the CAAT order could possibly be subject to a maximum of one year in prison or a maximum of 40,000 baht in fine or both.
Meanwhile, the air force categorically dismissed what was called a fake news that Wing 21 in Ubon Ratchathani had been hit in a surprise attack by drones whilst the lower northeastern province which shares a border with Cambodia is among those where commercial and private drones are currently banned from flying.
In another development, Cambodian army troops broke ceasefire again by opening gunfire at Thai army positions in Chong-arnma area of Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani and Pumakhua area of Kantharalak district of Sisaket last night whilst the Thai army had effectively repelled Cambodia’s BHQ special-force intruders in Takhwai area of Panom Dongrak district of Surin.
Thailand and Cambodia had formally agreed to a mutual ceasefire during an emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Monday between acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet with mediators from the United States, China and Malaysia.
However, according to the Thai army, the ceasefire has so far been repeatedly violated by Cambodian forces opening gunfire at Thai army positions along the disputed border, prompting the Thai side to counterattack.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A drone flying high. Photo: Naewna
Front Page: A Thai-made Kamikaze UAV drone. Photo: Thai Rath
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