BANGKOK, July 16 — Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has set up a supervisory centre to prepare Thailand’s political, economic and social sectors for participation in the imminent ASEAN Community.
Gen Surasak Kanchanarat, permanent secretary for defence, told a press conference at the Ministry of Defence today that the centre would comprise sub-committees to oversee preparations in the security, economic and social fields.
Together with Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary for foreign affairs, he would co-chair the security subcommittee. Air Force chief ACM Prajin Juntong heads the economic subcommittee and Navy chief Adm Narong Pipattanasai chairs the social subcommittee.
“The centre is aimed at ensuring that preparations in the three main areas of security, economic and social aspects will progress in the same direction,” the permanent secretary for defence said.
His security sub-committee will work on ASEAN unity, balance of power with world powers, connections within ASEAN, national security and appropriate knowledge and attitudes about ASEAN.
Gen Surasak also said that the Ministry of Defence would hold a seminar on July 25 for military authorities of ASEAN member states to discuss the preparation of their countries for the ASEAN Community.
Mr Sihasak said the formation of the ASEAN Community would also reveal security issues such as transnational crime, migration and disease transmission.
