"Suthin" is happy to meet "Big O", confirming that the Defense Ministry plans to reduce the military draft. Create welfare incentives, adjust attitudes, and attract more people to volunteer. Reveals that talking with the leaders of the armed forces has good signals. Open your heart and accept that you want to talk. 3 P. Waiting for the right time.
Mr. Suthin Khlangsaeng, Minister of Defense Travel to meet Air Chief Marshal Sukamphon Suwannatat, former Minister of Defense During the Yingluck government and fellow military preparatory class 10 of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister. at private residence Inside Soi Phahonyothin 62/1 to ask for advice on working for more than 1 hour.
Mr. Suthin and Air Chief Marshal Sukamphon They came out to give an interview together, with Mr. Suthin saying that he gained confidence and knowledge. Believe that you can do it. Therefore, he conveyed to the minister what management must be done. What are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd most important things? How should you position yourself? Some stories provide very useful details.
Mr. Suthin also revealed that He talked with many groups of soldiers. All in all, it is considered a good atmosphere. Have encouragement to work When asked if there had been any reflection or not. As he is the only minister who is a civil servant, Mr. Suthin said that it did not reflect anything. But we have seen signs that the military is open to accepting civilians. And we can catch the signal that if we understand him There are clear guidelines. And he believes that we do it for the nation. He believed that the soldiers had no problems. It's not difficult. But it's not careless.
When asked about fear of negligence Because there have been 2 lessons already? From the Thai Rak Thai and Pheu Thai government, Mr. Suthin said that we did not think of that. And I didn't think that it would be an issue that needed to be taken into account. If we think we know it well and are skilled, that is negligence.
When asked about the criticism of the cancellation of military conscription and the submarine purchase budget, Mr. Suthin said that yesterday he had talked with the three militaries but had not yet gone into details. As for conscripting the military, when we talked about it, we found that the army had been thinking about it for a long time. He did it step by step. But if given as quickly as society wants The government must step in to regulate and support it, so he is not worried.
When asked to reiterate the submarine case that the Navy is preparing to have Mr. Suthin sign. and entered the Cabinet (Cabinet) meeting to change to Chinese engines. Mr. Suthin said that when he took the oath of allegiance He will talk about this matter. But as far as talking goes, it is considered that there is a solution. It's a good solution too. But I would like to speak after giving a policy statement to Parliament.
This matter is a binding budget. Is there an opportunity to move forward or not? Mr. Suthin said that he would wait to announce the policy first.
When asked about the reduction in personnel which Mr. Suthin had said would start in April next year. Many people criticized it as being too late. Mr. Suthin said that what he said was next April was for conscripts because conscripts will choose April. The Permanent Secretary for Defense said that this matter had already been studied. You can do it now. Regarding the opening of voluntary applications If the number of voluntary applicants is full, there is no need for military conscription. As for the matter of reducing personnel, it is a matter of adjusting the proportion of generals who said that there were too many. The army already has a plan. In 2027, the size of the army will change. which is what he put in place The minister has a duty to help keep the plan in place.
When asked to emphasize the reduction of military conscription that we cannot use the 100% recruitment method because there is still a lack of approximately 40,000 conscripts. Mr. Suthin said that one fact that we must accept is that there must be soldiers. Because he had already assessed the potential of the army and how many personnel it had to have. Therefore, we must open applications first. and that we will only be able to accept a lot of applicants We must create incentives to increase welfare and change attitudes. Do not have a negative attitude towards conscripts.
“Pictures of cruel training are attached to children being injured and children dying. In this case, we must return to his faith. And still have faith Especially parents in other provinces that he took his son to be a conscripted soldier Got a real salary but didn't actually receive it. We must make it clear that the following conscripted children will receive full salary Break it, break it as necessary. We will be able to explain. directly into the account,” Mr. Suthin said.
Then Air Chief Marshal Sukamphon Said that what we talked about today, he explained to us that he had already gone in. What will you encounter? But it was the first time civilians had taken control of the military. After talking with each other, there was an understanding. Mr. Suthin received a lot and probably went to prepare himself. He thinks that when civilians come to control soldiers and have a good heart, the soldiers will have a good heart. Everything will end. We meet each other halfway.
Mr. Suthin also revealed that after this there will be a trip to meet Gen. Chettha Thanajaro and Mr. Surachat Bamrungsuk, security experts at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, as well as there are also coordinating queues such as Gen. Chawalit Yongjai. Yut, before the day of the policy announcement, would probably find
There will be a request to meet. Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha and Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan as a former Army commander as well? Mr. Suthin said that if he had the opportunity, he would go to see them. Don't choose any side.
When asked if traveling to meet important people shows that he is not ready to manage the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Suthin said that it is not, but it is his working style. We think that asking for knowledge, asking for experience, is still full of water. There's a lot to learn. And by going to see him, he gained knowledge.
Mr. Suthin also said that he still does not know what day he will enter the ministry. Must wait to announce policy to Parliament first.
Source: Thai News Agency