Bangkok: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed the Cabinet to accelerate relief efforts for those affected by the ongoing crisis at the Thai-Cambodian border. He has tasked the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) with registering affected individuals at evacuation centers, bypassing bureaucratic hurdles, with only local leaders required for certification.
According to Thai News Agency, the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Interior, emphasized during a Cabinet meeting that the situation at the border remains unresolved and that many people have been displaced without receiving promised compensation. He urged the Cabinet to expedite the disbursement of funds to the affected population.
The Cabinet has accepted the Prime Minister’s proposal, instructing the DDPM to streamline data integration to improve relief efforts. Additionally, plans are underway for the Ministry of Defence to commence negotiations with Cambodia starting December 24th, addressing concerns over troo
p withdrawal and requiring Cambodia to issue an apology for its actions.
In a related discussion, the Prime Minister addressed the appointment of descendants of deceased military personnel to civil service roles, highlighting current limitations due to qualification mismatches. He instructed relevant agencies to consider more flexible regulations to facilitate such appointments.
The Cabinet has also approved the 2026 budget for emergency expenditures, including support for the Royal Thai Police’s vehicle inspection project. This initiative aims to curb drug smuggling in the northern region, with a request for 846 million baht to enhance inspection capabilities.
Simultaneously, the Cabinet has allocated nearly 9 billion baht for the upcoming parliamentary elections and referendum, with the Budget Bureau reviewing expenditure details in collaboration with the Election Commission to ensure efficient fund utilization.
Additionally, a central budget of 206 million baht has been allocated to the Army for equipm
ent procurement, while 5.05 billion baht has been approved for the Ministry of Defence to support the Royal Thai Armed Forces, with specific details remaining classified.
The National Security Council has requested a review of a previous Cabinet resolution to extend compensation criteria for those affected by the border crisis beyond August 2, 2025. This aims to include individuals impacted after this date, such as soldiers injured by landmines.
The DDPM has also sought Cabinet approval to simplify compensation registration procedures for affected citizens, eliminating the need for village meetings and requiring only certification from local leaders.
Regarding potential rewards for soldiers, Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed that while it is government policy to reward frontline soldiers, discussions on morale and rewards will occur once the situation is resolved. For now, the government will provide necessary support to security forces.