Cavalry unit for Khon Kaen eases closer

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...n-eases-closer

Cavalry unit for Khon Kaen eases closer

B70bn approved for Prem's 'birthday wish'

• Published: 7/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The Defence Council has approved a budget of 70 billion baht to establish a 3rd Cavalry Division in Khon Kaen, a project long advocated by Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.


Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, in orange shirt, greets cavalrymen yesterday when they visited him at his Si Sao Thewes home. It is a tradition for cavalrymen to call on Gen Prem, a former cavalry officer, to wish him a happy new year. WASSANA NANUAM

The Defence Ministry was now in the process of submitting the budget plan to the cabinet, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday.

The project calls for the allocation of one billion baht in the first year to erect buildings and basic infrastructure to house the troops.

The rest of the 70 billion baht would be spent on a tied-over basis over 10 years, Gen Prawit said.

The ministry might defer procurement of hardware such as tanks and divert the money to the division project should there be an overall budget shortfall, a Defence Ministry source said.

The 3rd cavalry unit had been planned to enhance the capacity of the two existing divisions: the 1st Division supervising the North and the 2nd Division overseeing the Central Plains.

Inception of the 3rd Cavalry Division has been a long-held dream of Gen Prem.

The privy council president asked that the unit be set up as a birthday gift from the army chief in 2007, "so that I can die with my eyes closed". Gen Prem served in the cavalry.

Previous army chief Anupong Paojinda endorsed the proposal and asked Defence Minister Prawit to help make it happen, an army source said.

Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara yesterday led a group of 200 cavalrymen from all parts of the country to wish Gen Prem a happy new year at his Si Sao Thewes home.

Gen Prem appeared at the gathering in an orange shirt, his birthday colour. The privy council president appeared in good spirits and spent about half an hour chatting with his guests.

The idea of setting up a 3rd Cavalry Division arose from army restructuring.

The changing national security situation and perceived threats were taken into consideration when deciding on the restructuring, the supreme commander said.

[robuzo]

Baht 70 billion down the rat-hole.

[rickschoppers]

Yeah!!!!!!!! The calvary is a cumin.

[Gallowspole]

Excellent. We'll get a another new golf course up here.

[Norton]

3rd Cavalry Division in Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen! An obvious choice location if one wants to protect the country from enemies intent upon destroying the nation.

Never know when or where the red shirted enemies of the state will gather their forces and strike as they did in Bangkok where the 2nd Cavalry Division heroically defeated the "enemy", averting the downfall of the nation and all it holds sacred.

[Mid]

earlier background :

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...-birthday.html (Thailand: Prem Gets an Army for his Birthday)

[Bangyai]

Excellent. We'll get a another new golf course up here.

Be nice if the cavalry had a carvery ..... in the clubhouse. KK could do with some decent falang food.

Anyway, knowing Prems peccadillos I bet he wished for something else in addition to a bodyguard just up the road.

[Davis Knowlton]

My birthday's next week. I doubt I even get a platoon.

[Norton]

These will never do. Shaven fruits prefered.

[DrB0b]

knowing Prems peccadillos I bet he wished for something else in addition to a bodyguard just up the road

Think you might have put an extra letter in there.

[Bangyai]

knowing Prems peccadillos I bet he wished for something else in addition to a bodyguard just up the road

Think you might have put an extra letter in there.

Hmmm.... so you're saying not this :



But more like this :



or this ?

[nevets]

Its my Birthday to day i didnt get an Army either.

[Spin]

Just the other day I was thinking that Khon kaen was lacking something, at the time I was torn between a cavalry unit and a chocolate fireguard factory.

[DrB0b]

^^^

[hunter]

What's her name ?

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...nd-not-to-bite

The armed forces, politics and which hand not to bite

• Published: 8/01/2011 at 03:30 AM
• Newspaper section: News

A certain academic website abroad interested in Thai studies is debating the role of the armed forces and whether the army has the most influence in Thai politics or is only a tool of a non-system power group to deal with out-of-line politicians, noted Nidhi Eowseewong, a leading academic writing for Matichon.

Soldiers stand to attention as outgoing army commander-in-chief Anupong Paojinda hands over authority to Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha at army headquarters in Bangkok on Sept 30, 2010. The armed forces in Southeast Asian countries play an important role in politics, says historian Nidhi Eowseewong, writing in Matichon. CHANAT KATANYU

Mr Nidhi wondered why the website had taken up the issue as it was well known among political scientists that the armed forces in all Southeast Asian countries have always played an important role in politics. There are several academic papers describing this role and often it is argued that the armed forces is an independent player not attached to any power groups in society.

Talking about Thailand, some people believe there is a non-system power group, an invisible hand, or an economic power network, that dictates political events. They seem to forget the role of the armed forces itself as if it does not exist.

Out of the two extreme views that either say the armed forces is the most influential element or has no role at all, Mr Nidhi believed that the role of the Thai armed forces is somewhere in between. The armed forces, especially the army, is a political player, has vested interests, aspirations and is quite independent. This player cannot play a role in politics alone. It must connect with other powers within the system or without, or both. It is not the army's own independent decision to play a role in politics. It is often dragged into it, not unlike other players in Thai politics.

Before talking about the allies of the armed forces and its network of friends, Mr Nidhi wanted to talk about the armed forces' vested interests that compel the top brass to have a role and a certain level of influence in Thai politics.

The armed forces' vested interests here do not include idealist goals such as soldiers being led to believe they have a duty to protect the monarchy and preserve the Thai nation state and Mr Nidhi does not count the commission obtained by the top brass for weapons and other procurement projects.

The armed forces' primary interest is the yearly budget allocation, which is quite large, especially after the Sept 19, 2006, coup. Since then the budget for the armed forces has increased every year and in terms of the country's GDP, it can be said the Thai armed forces gets the largest share of all armed forces in Asean and of course higher than any European Union country.

Some money was used to buy an airship that cannot fly, fake hand-held bomb detectors, tanks with no engines, etc. Yet most is spent on modern weaponry to demonstrate their power to society.

Mr Nidhi argued that it is increasingly hard for the armed forces to justify their expensive weaponry procurements as in the foreseeable future, there should not be any major wars spreading to Thailand. The armed forces will have to become more engaged in internal security, including narcotics and mob suppression, flood relief and trooping the colour. It is not easy for the armed forces chiefs to defend demands for new weapons because to defend their existing weapon stockpile and budget allocation is already exceedingly hard.

For this reason, by engaging in politics the armed forces can make sure its budget will keep on rising every year.

The second major interest that the armed forces holds dear is its vast land holdings throughout the country and its widespread control of TV and radio frequencies. These resources have risen rapidly in terms of business value in the past decade. As long as the armed forces maintain its political power, these resources will not be taken away. Mr Nidhi pointed out that the new National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) would not hesitate to strip the armed forces of its vast TV and radio frequencies and distribute them to others for the public good were it not for the fact that the armed forces are so powerful right now. The NBTC would not dare to step on its toes, either now or in the near future.

As for the land holdings, in the past these included remote forest areas. With the continuing expansion of towns and cities throughout Thailand, this land is now within reach of commercial exploitation. If the armed forces, especially the army, exploit its land for commercial purposes, it would bring in a lot of money, much greater than Chulalongkorn University's revenue from Siam Square, Mahboonkrong and Chamchuri Square combined.

Even though the land and airwaves frequencies do not belong to any particular member of the top brass, but are an heritance from their predecessors, these must be kept and maintained for present and future use. To do that, the armed forces must maintain a stronghold in the political power field so parliament dares not pass a land distribution law to strip the land holdings and the NBTC dares not seize their vast airwaves frequencies.

The third main interest is the business opportunities offered to some top brass. Since the armed forces have political clout, businessmen often employ influential former senior officers as directors or advisers. The same could be said about state enterprise chiefs. Of course only a few retired top brass can land such lucrative posts, yet such traditions must be kept and maintained.

Another armed forces' trait worth mentioning is wealth distribution. It is the tradition of the Thai armed forces to take care of its subordinates, the so-called feudal relationship. In ancient times, spoils of war would be distributed to those soldiers who participated in successful campaigns. This tradition was passed on to the modern army. Of course, the officers take a huge chunk of both legitimate and illegitimate gains from holding power. However, a certain per centage is passed on to their subordinates either in cash or in kind to maintain loyalty and service. To make sure they have riches to distribute, the armed forces brass must engage in politics.

However, to be able to have power over politics, the armed forces top brass must be independent and must be able to determine their own destiny and goals. For this reason, senior officers do not trust elected politicians because they always want to lessen the armed forces' influence. The top brass do not want politicians to interfere with the appointment of armed forces chiefs because only independent chiefs can ensure the army does not become a tool of anyone (without any due compensation).

However, the modern armed forces' power over politics does not come from tanks, M16s or special forces from Lop Buri (yes, they play a part but not an important one). The armed forces can maintain their political power because they have the consent of other powers in Thai society.

When the armed forces staged the latest coup four years ago, several bankers and businessmen offered congratulations to the army chief who led it. Mr Nidhi noted that these people either openly or secretly helped to finance the coup.

Therefore, to understand the role of the armed forces, one must look at its relationship with its allies. What is most interesting is that such alliances are not constant but shift all the time because other political players want to maintain an independent role. Of course, this shift of political alliance also affects internal politics within the armed forces as well, which in turn affects political events in Thailand.

Mr Nidhi noted that since the student uprising of Oct 14, 1973, many groups had emerged, and continue to emerge, to play a role in politics. This weakens the power of the armed forces to dictate the direction of politics. The disintegration of the National Peace Keeping Council's (NPKC) power in May 1992, the so-called Black May uprising, was the ultimate proof that raw military power can no longer control politics. Back then, the military realised their political alliances had either abandoned them or let them take the fall alone.

Even the Oct 14, 1973, event saw disunity within the army when its allies began to back away.

After Black May 1992, the armed forces retreated from politics. Yet political developments after that forced certain political players to seek the army out as a political ally to boost their political bargaining power.

Mr Nidhi concluded his article by saying the armed forces do not really have ``allies''. These so-called allies might be cooperating with the armed forces now, but if the political winds shift, they could quickly change camp and abandon them. One should call these allies ``political shareholders'' who may cooperate for a while but sell their stake when other opportunities beckon with better returns on their investment.

[DrB0b]

.

Soldiers with nice shiny helmets. Exactly what Prem wanted for his birthday.

[Mid]

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.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/03/02/national/Cabinet-approves-new-Army-divisions-30149883.html

secret budget ?

.

[crippen]

Be good for my Roses.

[Buksida]

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.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/03/02/national/Cabinet-approves-new-Army-divisions-30149883.html

secret budget ?

.

I thought the military budget was always and then Thaki made it public. Has it gone back to being secret?

it can be said the Thai armed forces gets the largest share (of GDP) of all armed forces in Asean

More than Burma?

[Mid]

More than Burma?

Monetary terms or percentage ?

[Buksida]

More than Burma?

Monetary terms or percentage ?

GDP

From the article:

Since then the budget for the armed forces has increased every year and in terms of the country's GDP, it can be said the Thai armed forces gets the largest share of all armed forces in Asean and of course higher than any European Union country

.

[Mid]

still doesn't answer the question , Burma obviously gets a huge % of GDP but how does that stack up against Thailand in monetary terms given the sizes of the relevant economies ?

[SteveCM]

Interesting section in Part 2 of an interview with Finance Minister Korn conducted by Asia Correspondent's new blogger Andrew Spooner:

Thai Finance Minister: ‘The less we spend on military the better’ | Asian Correspondent


<snip>


[AS] Referring to the reported level of investment in the Pracha Wiwat programme of 2 billion baht (US$65.6m) a year…


[Korn] That’s totally wrong. It’s more. Well, that’s right for the first year anyway.


Well the Bangkok Post state that it is 2 billion baht.


Okay, okay. Roughly.


And I am referring to the level of Pracha Wiwat investment in this next question as it seems quite a surprising state of affairs to an outsider such as myself when set against payments in other areas. For example, when we consider the amount of money put aside to spend on Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda’s new cavalry unit in Khon Kaen, which costs 70 billion baht (US$3.3bn), equivalent to 35 years of the Pracha Wiwat welfare programme, and a military project that some commentators consider to be something of an unnecessary vanity project, I must wonder, and speaking very much as an outsider on this issue, but also having observed other grandiose spending, is military spending out of control in Thailand? And, given all the reforms and changes you are talking about, when are Thais going to be able to ensure they get the best value for money from their military? Setting 2 billion baht against the military spending seems very small.


First of all be careful with the numbers a little bit. Pracha Wiwat is just a sliver of what we do in terms of welfare. Income guarantee for farmers is over 40 billion baht. Free education is another 30 to 40 billion baht. We pay 500 baht to elderly people who don’t have a pension that, again, is tens of billions of baht. If anything we’re criticised for being too generous on welfare. Pracha Wiwat is different in that these are measures that are designed to put things right without having to necessarily rely on taxpayers’ money. For example, the reality that tens of thousands of street vendors are trading in illegal spots, even though they’ve been trading there for decades and these spots remain illegal, frankly speaking, simply because, that it is profitable for city councillors to keep them illegal so that they can extort payments in return for turning a blind eye. We went through this Pracha Wiwat process in looking at every single street vendor spot and basically assessing whether they should be legitimised in order to reduce that kind of cost to the vendors. We fought tooth and nail, actually, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) and the BMA played along but there were certainly some elements who were trying to hold onto their source of revenue. We ended up, at the first stage, agreeing to 200 additional spots to all almost 20,000 vendors to become legitimised. And that doesn’t cost money. Ask the individual vendors if this is something that helps. For them it is manna from heaven. And once they’re trading legitimately it allows them to access cheap loans from the state banks, reducing their need to depend on loan sharks and essentially improving their economic status. Likewise there are similar schemes for taxis, motorcycle taxis. And again these are the kind of things that need tweaking structures and not needing to use the budget. As I said it is separate.

As for the military, first of all I have no idea about the Khon Kaen thing. For me I am a liberal. The less money we need to spend on the military the better, as far as I’m concerned. But if we are going to have a military and of course we need to have a military, then they need to be properly equipped. And on that basis we need to be willing to spend money to ensure that we’re getting the best value from our military. Beyond that we need to make sure that the military budget isn’t taking away our ability to look after the people.

<snip>

[more at the link above]

...................


Yes, you read that right. Korn is Thailand's Finance Minister and he has "no idea about the Khon Kaen thing"..... the 70 billion baht "Khon Kaen thing".

[nostromo]

still doesn't answer the question , Burma obviously gets a huge % of GDP but how does that stack up against Thailand in monetary terms given the sizes of the relevant economies ?

Of course Burma is minor compared to Thailand, in hardware and plain power, but isn't it really about thailand, cambodia and vietnam