Defense Minister: Bt10 Bn Budget For Defense Not To Prevent Coup

Defense Minister: Bt10 bn budget for Defense not to prevent coup

BANGKOK, 24 September 2009 (NNT) – Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan rejected an anti-government group’s accusation that the military will not stage a coup d’état in exchange for a budget of 10 billion baht for armament purchase.

General Prawit stated that the budget was part of the ministry’s 2009 budget already approved by parliament. He explained that the budget for the weapon deal was reviewed by the Cabinet last Tuesday as it exceeded 1 billion baht.

The minister assured that the budget would be spent transparently and could be audited. He added that the government did not approve the money to prevent a coup d’état as accused by the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

-- NNT 24 September 2009

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