EDITORIAL
New toys forNavy: why?
- Published: 29/03/2011 at 02:38 AM
- Newspaper section: News
It took a lot of silent running before Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agreed to add another 7.7 billion baht to the country's deficit budget, just to buy submarines for the Royal Thai Navy. The prime minister may have kept negotiations secret because he feared the public would be outraged at such a deal. If so, he was undoubtedly correct. The decision to pay out 1.28 billion baht each for six used German submarines is excessive. The purchase came under strong criticism as soon as it was announced, and it is likely to attract additional negative comment in coming days, as it should.
You can buy a lot with 7.7 billion baht. The government could narrow its growing deficit. It could try to cover at least some of its populist spending, which seems certain to expand as Mr Abhisit and the Democrat Party court voters in a coming election. That 7.7 billion baht could easily help to set a new floor price for farmers at a time of falling rice prices. Developers of alternative energy could certainly put 7.7 billion baht to good use in alternative energy production, such as solar power.
To spend such a large sum on military submarines seems counter-intuitive. The navy has sought underwater boats for many years. At the same time, critics have pointed out that submarines in the Gulf of Thailand are even less logical than an aircraft carrier. The lamented and almost permanently moored carrier Chakri Naruebet plays no role in national security. It can, however, at least take part in certain humanitarian missions if necessary. There have been years of justification by navy brass about the need for submarines. It is still difficult, if not impossible, to imagine a scenario where such boats could usefully serve the country.
This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.
