Another Border Operation

Malaysia and Thailand recently launched another joint military operation - condenamed Alpha 792 - against communist guerillas along their common border. The last operation was held 18 months ago.

On 3 February, about 4,000 combined troops started a two-pronged attack on the areas of Sadao and Betong, both in southern Thailand. Earlier, the operational areas had been heavily bombarded by warplanes and artileries to "soften up" the ground, which was believed to be densely booby-trapped.

The Communist Party of Malaya has 2,500 guerillas lodged in sanctuaries in southern Thailand along Malaysia's borders, and another 500 operating inside Malaysia. There are also about 1,000 Thai communist guerillas in southern Thailand.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the first joint Malaysia-Thai air exercise will be held soon to standardise and coordinate various procedures used by the armed forces of the two countries.