Prayuth assigns duties, pledges to pay farmers

Prayuth assigns duties, pledges to pay farmers

Paying struggling rice farmers will be one of the first priorities of the new administration, coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha said, as he began to divide up government responsibilities among leaders of the armed forces and police.

Gen Prayuth, who is also the acting prime minister, reportedly asked the Finance Ministry to make the necessary funds available, saying that about 80 billion baht should be paid to farmers within 15-20 days without having to resort to selling rice to raise the money.

Farmers earlier this year staged several protests against the former caretaker government, which essentially ran out of money to pay them for pledged rice. Because of its caretaker status, it had limited authority to raise new funds, other than selling rice from its stocks at a huge loss.

The army chief also said that before an election can be held, the country needed to undergo serious reforms.

"I want all civil servants to help organise the country," Reuters quoted the general as telling an audience of government officials. "We must have economic, social and political reforms before elections. If the situation is peaceful, we are ready to return power to the people."

Gen Prayuth made the comments as he set about dividing up government responsibilities a day after seizing control after talks to find a political solution failed.

ACM Prajin Janthong, the air force chief, will supervise seven economic ministries, according to an announcement made by the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC).

The seven ministries are finance, commerce, industry, agriculture, energy, labour and transport.

Adm Narong Pipattanasai, the navy chief, will oversee ministries related to social issues: natural resources and environment, education, science and technology, culture, social development and human security, and tourism and sports.

Supreme Commander Gen Tanasak Patmapragorn will surpervise four ministries: defence, interior, information and communication technology, and foreign affairs.

Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, the national police chief, will oversee 20 government agencies including the Secretariat of the Prime Minister, the Secretariat of the Cabinet, the Office of the Council of State, the Office of the Civil Service Commission, and the National Economic and Social Development Board.

Gen Prayuth himself will be in charge of five government agencies including the Internal Security Operations Command, the National Police, the National Security Council, the National Intelligence Agency and the Budget Bureau.

The NPOMC decided to have three layers of administration, with policymakers forming the top layer and comprising the NPOMC chief, his four deputies and the secretary-general. The NPOMC will set immediate and long-term policies to be transformed into operation, the statement said.

The second layer of administration would transform policy into operation and covers six fields including security, the economy, psychological and social welfare, law and justice, special operations, and agencies directly under the supervision of the NPOMC chief.

The third layer is operational which will cover government agencies and the Peace and Order Maintaining Command headed by the commander of Army Region 1.

Gen Udomdej Seetabutr will head the NPOMC Secretariat.

In a meeting with heads of government agencies, Gen Prayuth told them that the country needed reform in all spheres -- economic, social and political -- before an election and that all sides must agree together.

He also emphasised that one key policy would be to ensure that no attempts would be made to insult the royal institution.

Touching briefly on details of other work he would like to see done, Gen Prayuth cited the example of integrated infrastructure development, such as building roads along both sides of the Chao Phraya River to systematically solve traffic problems, and to promote an efficient water management system.

A bird's eye view shows Democracy Monument and Ratchadamnoen Avenue on Friday afternoon. (Photo by Surapol Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn)

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