The army has set up a committee to examine the operation of its welfare projects, especially those related to housing, to ensure everybody gets fair treatment.
The move follows the army's signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Treasury Department on the management of its commercial welfare projects and use of state land for commercial purposes to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance.
The agreement will pave the way for the transfer of state land and commercial businesses to the Finance Ministry, so most of the revenue earned can go into state coffers.
Col Sirichan Ngathong, the army's deputy spokeswoman, said army chief Apirat Kongsompong had ordered his deputy, Gen Natthapol Nakpanich, to set up the committee and give it the jurisdiction to send summonses to army units to provide information or hand over documents for examination.
The committee also has the authority to set up sub-committees or working panels as it sees fit, and will submit findings on the management of welfare projects to the army chief, she said.
Col Sirichan said questions have been raised about the management of the army's internal welfare schemes. The army has had to take the issue seriously, due to recent claims of the unfair treatment of its personnel.
The top priorities are the army's housing projects, which are either run solely by the army or jointly by the army and the Treasury Department, she said, adding that housing loans provided by the Army Welfare Department's savings programme to its members will also be examined.
Army spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said several claims made by activists about unfair treatment of personnel in the housing schemes are related to business conflicts and have nothing to do with the military.
He added the Army Welfare Department's savings programme, which has been linked to disputes, only provides loans to members who want to buy property, and these loans are arranged in line with regulations. He added the department cannot buy or sell property despite claims in the media.
Col Winthai, however, has called on army personnel who believe they have been mistreated to file complaints with the army chief via the channel set up recently for this purpose or use existing legal channels.
The army housing welfare scheme attracted public attention following the Feb 8 Nakhon Ratchasima mass shooting where the motive was believed to be a row over a housing loan.