Thai Cabinet Approves New Army Divisions

[webfact]

Cabinet approves new Army divisions

By PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

The Cabinet approved more than Bt2 billion yesterday from a secret budget to establish two new divisions, one of infantry and one of cavalry, to serve in the North and Northeast regions.

The cavalry division of tanks is to be placed in the Northeastern province of Khon Kaen and will be the unit's third such division. Its establishment was inspired by Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, who was a cavalry officer, a source said.

The new division of tanks will be a supportive unit for the Second Army Region serving along the northeastern border with Cambodia and Laos.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told the Cabinet yesterday that the military needed an initial budget of Bt300 million for the cavalry division and later would ask the government to allocate at least Bt70 billion to equip the new unit over 10 years.

The plan to set up the new cavalry division kicked off when the previous Army commander, Anuphong Paochinda, held office, long before Thailand's border conflicts with Cambodia, the source said.

Tanks played a key role in the fresh clash between the two neighbours when heavy weapons, including tank artillery, were involved at the border area near the Preah Vihear Temple from February 4-7.

Cabinet also approved an initial budget of Bt2 billion for the 7th Infantry Division to oversee security matters in the North, notably along the border with Burma.

The infantry division would be placed in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai province to support the Third Army Region, the source said.

The mission for the new infantry division is to tackle narcotic smuggling and human trafficking along the border areas, he said.

The Budget Bureau told the Cabinet the initial budget for the infantry division was too high, but Prawit defended the plan, saying the new division had a wide responsibility and needed a large number of troops and equipment.

The ministry would later ask Cabinet to approve some Bt8 billion to Bt9 billion over the next three years, the source quoted Prawit as saying.

Prawit told reporters that the new infantry division was badly needed for the Northern region, where only one infantry division served now.

Thailand currently has three infantry divisions for the Central region, two divisions for the Northeast and two for the Southern region.

"The Northern region from Nakhon Sawan to Chiang Rai is so large, we need to have one more division to cover the whole area effectively," he said.

"Indeed, the new infantry division is a successor to the terminated 2nd Special Force Division."

The Defence Council approved the plan to set up the two new divisions from January 25.

"The two additional military divisions are necessary for the current security situation, since we have inadequate troops for the new challenge," said Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng.

Thailand is facing new threats from all directions, he said, including narcotics smuggling and human trafficking across the border.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

[truethailand]

"The two additional military divisions are necessary for the current security situation, since we have inadequate troops for the new challenge," said Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng.

Which security situation would that be....

[sunanta]

"The two additional military divisions are necessary for the current security situation, since we have inadequate troops for the new challenge," said Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng.

Which security situation would that be....

these rice nigros simply turned a blind eye in the south where a civil war has been raging for years...if you call it a

HUB they may notice

Edited March 2, 2011 by webfact
Quote fixed //Admin

[DoctorG]

New Divisions probably mean some more new Generals.

[softgeorge]

New Divisions probably mean some more new Generals.

About another 150 might do it. I heard they were down to about 250

[MaiChai]

Calvery division? Does any army in the world still use horses? Why dont they just call it a tank division?

[TAWP]

Calvery division? Does any army in the world still use horses? Why dont they just call it a tank division?

Many armies still uses the traditional naming -- or did longer than expected.

Ex. 1st Cav: http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/

Edited March 2, 2011 by TAWP

[rubl]

This was announced a while ago as a policy to be put forward. If I find the topic of that time I can probably predict what posts can be expected now

[Dah fahrang]

The military tightening its already iron hard grip.

New jet fighters from Sweden - a few dozen new tanks here and there - oh, and lets add a couple of battalions of troops.

The cabinet couldn't 'not' approve this, now, could they? Would they dare vote against something their overlords want?