Joining the event was Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham and a host of other leading figures, including the commanding officer of the Third Area Command, Vice Admiral Suchart Thampitakwet.
The assembly comprised 269 personnel, including from the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Marine Division; the 11th Coast Guard Battalion; and the Security Division from the Phang Nga Naval Base.
In addition to the required parade and swearing of allegiance to the Thai flag, the navy personnel conducted a series of drills, including an exercise for responding to a hostage-taking situation.
In Phuket, members of the Royal Volunteer Spirit Program, also known as ‘904 VorPorRor’ volunteers, conducted a cleanup at Karon Beach.
The cleanup was led by Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong*, joined by y Muang Phuket District Chief Pairot Srilamul and community leaders such as kamnan (subdistrict headmen) and phu yai baan (village headmen), along with local residents.
The event, at Nong Harn Public Park, was held under the occasion of Thai Armed Forces Day, which is also honoured as King Naresuan the Great’s Day.
* The Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) has reported Adul Chuthong as a Phuket Vice Governor at selected events since the new year. However, there have been no reports by PR Phuket specifically announcing him installed as a Phuket Vice Governor.
He is not listed as a Vice Governor on the official Phuket Provincial Office website, and the Governor’s Office has not issued any announcements proclaiming Adul Chuthong as a Vice Governor of Phuket.
Adul Chuthong previously served as Thalang District Chief. He is often referred to as “Kongtho-Adul Chutong”, with Kongtho referring to the rank of lieutenant, which Mr Adul once held.