This website recently reported the outstanding work of Rangers Task Force 45 of the 4th Army Region. Based in Ra-ngae District of Narathiwat Province, or smack dab in the middle of bang-bang shoot-shoot territory, this intrepid band of soldiers have made their name not in combatting the insurgency with patrols and checkpoints, nor in hearts-and-minds strategies to win the allegiance of the local population.

Oh no. They have been fighting a battle on an altogether higher plane. This is no boots-on-the-ground bunch of grunts. These lads have their fingers on the keyboard.

In 4 months last year, they posted an amazing 1,699,038 comments on web boards and chat rooms to counter anti-monarchical sentiments and encourage loyalty to the throne.

Now this report came as something of a surprise. The thahan phran have normally been more associated with the brute force side of military activities, rather than anything as cerebral as cyber propaganda.

While they have reportedly moved on from their early days when recruits included prisoners on early release, they still carry a reputation for general thuggishness to the point that other branches of the armed forces are quietly advised to steer well clear of them. Many observers believe, for example, that the shadowy men in black responsible for some of the more sophisticated violence 3 years ago were rangers or ex-rangers.

A sample of their posts doesn’t reveal anything too intellectual, however. There are basic ‘Long Live the King’ messages together with assertions that the monarchy is essential to Thailand’s existence and that there are evil forces out there trying to bring the country down.

It’s hard to see that these offerings, even when repeated in their thousands, will actually change anyone’s mind. And if they all carry the monicker of Task Force 45, the more easily can they be ignored.

However, the article is strange in another respect. It appears in June this year, but seems to recount what went on some months back. Why doesn’t the report deal with more up-to-date exploits of Task Force 45?

Prachatai has learned from an unimpeachable source (he was wearing black so he must know this stuff) that the Task Force has run into a few problems after a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to extend their cyber reach.

Someone had the bright idea that some enemies of the nation might be foreigners and therefore unlikely to be able to read Thai. So the plan was to start an English-language programme. The hard-working Rangers would flood those foreign websites that dealt with Thai issues with patriotic postings and thus, er, protect the monarchy and the nation.

Alas, the Rangers’ poor levels of competence in English led to something less than success, as revealed by an interim progress report to 4^th Army Headquarters makes clear. Perhaps to demonstrate how it should be done, the report is written in English.

Sort of.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

23 May 2556

Learn: Commander-in Chef Army Region 4 th

From: Director Ragers Task Force 45

Matter: Internet Programe for Protect Monarchy and Nation (Engilsh) Report

Internet Programm for Protect Monarchy and Nation (Engnlish) get success results very much. But still have problem.

1) Personal of Rangers Tusk Force 45 can read Enlgish not well so many posts on webboards not relate, for example http://newboards.kongisking.net/perl/gforum.cgi, http://www.kakiking.com/blog, http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/forum/ and ect. Now posts from Rangers Taks Force 45 block for many site.

2) Soliders some person not use cut-and-paste as instruct so typing by himself and make mistake because confuse b and d and p q g. Which is reason that why have many time ‘some doby’ ‘nobooby’ and ‘kinq’, ‘pueen’ ‘qrince’.

3) Spell check in software (microsoft word copy fake, buy at Had Yai market see receipt attach) no have ‘lese majeste’ so many time change as ‘less majesty’. Make different meaning.

Because 2 and 3 some ranger in other force make accuse that lese majeste. Even go police station to get out them but police shoot us back and not allow. So some ranger in prison now and work less than plan.

Suggestion:

1) Class for soldier to learn Engrish so post better (see budget attach)

2) Bail money for solder in prison accuse less majesty (see budget attach).

3) Bonus for we success to reach to target 5,000 Englihs post per days (see budget attach)

Your faithfully,

Director

Protect Monarchy and Nation (Egnlish)

Rangers Task Farce 45