Air force golf course ‘can’t be converted’
published : 21 Feb 2024 at 08:36
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Aekarach Sattaburuth
Dhupatemiya Golf Course cannot be converted into a sports complex as the site is a military security stronghold, the Defence Ministry said.
Move Forward Party MP Chetawan Thuaprakhon said that the air force surrender Kantarat Golf Course and Dhupatemiya Golf Course to the government for conversion into public parks.
The army recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Treasury Department on using state land for commercial purposes.
Mr Chetawan previously said that the handover of Kantarat Golf Course, located between runways at Don Mueang Airport, would serve the government’s plan to expand and upgrade the airport.
On Monday Mr Chetawan filed a motion to consider turning the 625-rai Dhupatemiya Golf Course in Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani into a sports complex.
Some parts of the premises could also be made a public park to increase the green area, he said.
The Move Forward Party has been spearheading a campaign to identify dozens of military-held properties and businesses — from golf courses to broadcasting — that have nothing to do with its core functions. As well, it has complained about a lack of transparency in accounting for the revenue the businesses generate for the military.
The Defence Ministry said that the air force commander-in-chief was delighted to hand over the Don Mueang course to the government.
However, the ministry disagreed with the idea of converting the Dhupatemiya site into a sports complex.
It said the location had in the past been a key military stronghold to defend the capital against foes from the North and Northeast.
Vocabulary
- conversion (noun): the act or process of changing something from one form, use or system to another - การเปลี่ยนแปลง
- converted: changed from one form to another - เปลี่ยน โอนจากที่หนึ่งไปยังอีกที่หนึ่ง
- core: the most important or most basic part of something - ที่สำคัญที่สุด
- delighted: very happy or satisfied about something - ยินดีมาก,สุขใจ
- foe: an enemy or opponent - ศัตรู
- memorandum of understanding (MOU): a document used to describe a form of a written agreement between two or more groups, countries, etc. The document is not as strong as a contract but outlines a commitment between the two to work together toward the same purpose or goals -
- motion: a formal proposal that people discuss and then vote on in a meeting or debate - ญัตติ, ข้อเสนอเพื่อการอภิปรายในที่ประชุม
- spearhead: to begin an activity or lead an attack against somebody/something - นำหน้า
- state: government - รัฐ
- stronghold: bastion; an area where there is a lot of support for a political party - ฐานเสียง, ฐานที่มั่น, ขุมกำลัง
- surrender: to officially give up something - คืน, ยอมมอบ, สละ
- transparency: an honest way of doing things that allows other people to know exactly what you are doing - ความโปร่งใส
- Treasury department: the government department in charge of overseeing government possessions, appraisimg real estate (property), and overseeing money production - กรมธนารักษ์
