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.