Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Weapons not needed now
Oped, Editorial, Published on 30/04/2021
» Army chief Narongpan Jitkaewtae this week raised eyebrows when he ruled out the possibility that the armed forces would delay or give up part of their arms purchase plan, shrugging off repeated calls by the public for more money from state coffers to be used to battle the impacts from the Covid pandemic.
Tank splurge beyond pale
News, Editorial, Published on 07/09/2019
» At a time when people are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, the army's recent and planned multi-billion-baht purchases of "refurbished" tanks from the US have provoked the ire of many. The growing criticism is understandable. Taxpayers are still largely kept in the dark over why and how their money is spent on these and other military hardware and weapons listed in the military's post-2014 coup shopping cart.
Army budget out of control
News, Editorial, Published on 06/07/2019
» With Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's return to power as prime minister and him being tipped to also become the defence minister, the downsizing of the military and defence budget and repealing the military conscription rule -- which were electoral campaign pledges of key opposition parties -- are unlikely to take place.
Coupster with the smarts keeps eye on main game
Spectrum, Wassana Nanuam, Published on 20/05/2018
» Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is writing a new page of history for himself as the chief coup maker who has adopted lessons learnt previously by his predecessors as he strives to hang on to power, observers say.
First batch of 28 China-made tanks rolls in
News, Wassana Nanuam, Published on 11/10/2017
» The first batch of 28 VT4 tanks bought for 4.9 billion baht from China has arrived in Thailand, according to the army.
Army defends armoured vehicle splurge
News, Wassana Nanuam, Published on 15/06/2017
» The army and the government on Wednesday defended a decision to buy 34 armoured vehicles worth 2.3 billion baht from China, saying the procurement is in line with the country's defence needs and its national development plan.
Army sets sights on Chinese tanks
News, Wassana Nanuam, Published on 09/05/2017
» The Royal Thai Army will buy 34 armoured vehicles worth about two billion baht and another 11 VT-4 battle tanks from China, says army commander Chalermchai Sitthisat.