New defence minister to keep most policies intact

BANGKOK, January 30 (TNA) - New Thai Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat announced Monday that he will remain most policies of his predecessor intact. Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol, who was shifted from the transport portfolio to the defence portfolio, replacing former defence minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa, who is now a deputy prime minister, told reporters before chairing a Defence Council meeting that he will mostly follow General Yuthasak's policies. Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol said, however, that he considers politics and the military in all countries cannot be absolutely separated, but they will have to work together, as the military relies on state budget approved by the political administration and needs to heed and follow the defence minister's instructions and policies; while the political administration needs the military's support in certain security and civil services. According to the newly-appointed defence minister, there appears to be no clear-cut boundary between politics and the military, but it is based on systematic ethics and appropriateness, namely military strategies should be solely worked out and implemented by the military without any political interference. The newly-appointed defence minister dismissed rumours that there was a movement attempted to topple the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, urging the public not to be lured by groundless information. (TNA)