New centre to supervise Thailand's preparations for ASEAN Community

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New centre to supervise Thailand's preparations for ASEAN Community
By Digital Content



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. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-07-16

[UbonRatch]

Slightly late, by 20 years, methinks.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Oh dear! this they start with 6 months before the ASEAN Community starts!

[rreddin]

Oh dear! this they start with 6 months before the ASEAN Community starts!

I might be wrong, but I thought they had pushed the date back to 31st December 2015.

Notwithstanding when the ASEAN community starts, this from the OP is very telling: ""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."

[kingalfred]

ASEAN alot of talk about nothing. There will be very little "free movement of Labour" and integration with other countries.Thailand doesnt want even more labour from neighbouring countries with no work visas. The recent crackdown has highlighted thus.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited July 16, 2014 by kingalfred

[noitom]

This general at the podium looks and sounds eminently qualified to provide inspired leadership to Thailand to excel in ASEAN.

[Cake Monster]

Behind the curve as usual

[lostmebike]

Sorry but I can't help but think that this is just another Thai bureaucracy office set up to waste the hours away bogged down in producing, copying and waiting for Somchai to sign off documents.

Does this new way of making Thailand, Thai again include the increase of yet more bureaucracy?

That said, in theory the idea of nations joining to discuss such things as security, economic and social issues should really only be a good thing but I wonder how they will communicate??? After all, Thailand doesn't need English language skills or the people that teach it anymore, maybe because they're all fluent already, I don't know 555

Jokes aside, me thinks this kind of flies in the face of recent attitudes, 'We must find our identity again' yet at the same time accept the need to embrace other nations.

[BudRight]

The AEC will never happen, at least not in Thailand. In the next few years Thailand is going to look like Burma in 70s.