Army to boost 'urban combat' instruction

Army to boost 'urban combat' instruction

SPECIAL REPORT: Even battle-hardened soldiers struggle on the streets of Bangkok

• Published: 24/05/2010 at 12:00
  

One of the more important lessons learnt from the clashes with the armed men allegedly linked to the red shirt protesters over the past few weeks has been the need for the army to dust off its "urban combat" training programme.

An army source said the training for new soldiers would be revised and improved based on the experience gained during the military mission in the Ratchaprasong area.

The course would place more emphasis on urban combat and the curriculum would be developed from what the army has learnt from dealing with the protesters' patterns of conduct, especially during the crackdown on the operations of an unidentified armed group roaming among the red shirts.

The revised course will be taught at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and other security agencies.

Urban combat training courses have previously been available only at a few specialised army agencies. These agencies had focused on countering international terrorism such as plane hijackings or hostage crises.

However, new soldiers would be trained to study a wider range of urban terrorism, including urban mapping and planning of the province where they are based, the source said.

One soldier, who was on duty at Rama IV Road last week, admitted the red shirt movement was much better prepared this year than during their failed rally in April last year.

"In urban warfare, the side on the defensive [armed men linked to the reds] has the advantage over the side on the offensive [the troops] as they can hide and ambush the intruders from high buildings around their base," he said.

"[In last week's clashes] they had the same or even better weapons than the troops.

"They could spot us easily as we were in the open and wearing uniform. But we could not find them as they were hiding and mingled with the protesters. This operation was made even harder at night."

The soldier said urban combat must be well planned.

"It's very important to have undercover officers infiltrate the adversary to dictate the enemy movements as well as to have snipers to control the overall combat zone," he said.

He said troops last week experienced great difficulty in dispersing the protesters because some of their number were armed, including former soldiers and police officers who were highly trained in weapons use and the strategies and tactics of guerrilla warfare.

Another soldier, who has battle scars from clashes along the northern border, said his experience had been of little help in the Ratchaprasong operation.

The soldiers were well aware that the protesters were their fellow Thais but they also knew that they must protect their own lives at the same time, he said. That was what worried them most during the operation, he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/37625/army-to-boost-urban-combat-instruction