Thai Army Chief Confident About Military Budget Clarification

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Army Chief Confident About Military Budget Clarification

The Army chief has voiced no concern over the allocation of the military budget and suggested that the National Security Council exercise great caution over the establishment of a four-nation Mekong River operation committee.

At the Parliament yesterday, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, clarified the military budget for the fiscal 2012 with the House Budget Committee, saying the Army was allocated a budget for only five out of ten proposed projects.

He believes the committee will understand the Army's need for funds to maintain arms, develop and buy new equipment, and pay salaries and allowances for personnel.

Prayuth was not particularly concerned about whether an additional budget will be allocated, but he believes the Army will able to work around the current budget.

Meanwhile, the Army chief remarked on the National Security Council or NSC's approval for the establishment of a quad-party joint operation center to monitor the Mekong River, saying the agency must handle the matter with great caution as it could affect national sovereignty.

He added that each participating country should monitor its own territory.

Prayuth admitted that he is concerned about the matter, and believes the NSC's decision was influenced by the recent murder of 13 Chinese boatmen on the Mekong River.

He declined to comment on the government's push for the royal pardon decree and whether self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will finally be able to return to Thai soil.

The Army chief also presided over a ceremony to receive donated supplies for flood relief yesterday.

He reaffirmed the Army's commitment to helping the flood victims and pledged to continue with relief efforts after the flooding has eased.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01