A ban on weapons and mobile phones has been imposed at the Defence Ministry for security reasons, a source said Monday.
All military officers and visitors entering the office of the defence minister are required to leave their weapons and mobile phones outside.
During the Defence Council meeting on Oct 4 telephone signals at the Defence Ministry were jammed as a security measure which has long been in place.
On Monday, reporters were not allowed to enter a reception room of the office of the defence minister when ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat chaired a ceremony seeking donations for a new building at the War Veterans Hospital. However, only photographers were allowed inside but they were required to leave their mobile phones in a basket outside the room.
The source said the ban was imposed in the aftermath of the conflict between ACM Sukumpol and Gen Sathian Phermthongin, the former defence permanent secretary, over the latter's successor.
While ACM Sukumpol was holding an internal meeting with armed forces commanders and Gen Sathian, some people recorded their conversation with a mobile phone, the source said.