YALA: Stitch, Doraemon, Spider-Man and others have been drafted into the effort to boost the image of a ranger unit in this troubled southern province.
Motorists using Wang Phaya road might feel that they are not passing through military barricades. In fact, they could find themselves taking extra time to admire the colourful images as they drive by.
The 41st Ranger Regiment has turned the normally bland concrete barricades into something more eye-catching with several cartoon characters. They include Stitch, Doraemon, Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse, Pikaju and Sunaeo -- the girl Nobita falls in love with in the popular Japanese cartoon series Doraemon. Also featured are pictures of birds and traditional boats used in southern Thailand.
All of the images were sketched by the rangers stationed at the unit, while children in the area applied the finishing touch by filling in the colours.
The colourful barricades and fun characters also have a more serious purpose, which is to help the officers connect better with people in the area, commander Sitthisak Janebanjong said on Saturday.
"They help make the sitauation relaxed and draw smiles from anybody who sees them," Col Sitthisak said. "They also help us look 'soft' instead of having a stern image. And it goes well with our duties to make friends with people."
Any kind of stress relief is welcome in Tambon Wang Phaya where, like other areas in the southern border provinces, violent incidents can take place at any time.
In July 2012, five police officers on duty to protect teachers were killed and one seriously injured from a roadside bomb. A year later in February, a Wang Phaya Tambon Administration Organisation official was seriously injured after a pillion rider fired multiple shots at him while he was standing in front of his house.