BANGKOK, Nov 26 — Thailand’s Defence Council told the armed forces to support the national reform process and asked the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters to analyze Japan’s intention to expand its military role overseas.
Col Khongcheep Tantrawanit, Defence Ministry spokesman, said that at the council meeting today Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told units reporting directly to the Defence Ministry and armed forces chiefs to enhance the capabilities of their personnel and support national reform.
“The defence minister stressed in the meeting that the government intends to relieve conflicts and injustice in the nation. Therefore, the armed forces must help realize the reform to rescue the nation [from] its crises as they are all responsible for the task. He asked them to support the work of the National Legislative Assembly and the National Reform Council for the sake of national progress,” the spokesman said.
The defence minister also ordered the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters to analyze Japan’s policy to expand its military role overseas. It was instructed to consider impacts on and possible cooperation from Thailand.
Col Khongcheep said Thailand would host the 21st meeting of the Thai-Lao General Border Committee which opens tomorrow and ends Friday. Lao Defence Minister Sengnuan Saiyalath, committee co-chair, and his delegation will attend the meeting while officially visiting Thailand as guests of the Defence Ministry.
In another development, the Defence Council today approved an increase in the per diem of paramilitary rangers from 120 to 200 baht. There are about 22,000 male rangers and 869 women.
“Today paramilitary rangers play important roles in security operations in danger-prone areas including the southern border provinces. The Defence Council agrees with the per diem rise,” the defence spokesman said.
