Army tees off revamp of golf course ops

Army tees off revamp of golf course ops

The army has begun overhauling the management of its golf courses, as well as other recreational and sports facilities, following the mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima last year by a soldier.

Army spokesman Lt Gen Santipong Thammapiya said yesterday the army had set up a committee to investigate the mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima on Feb 8 last year.

Lt Gen Santipong was speaking on the first anniversary of the shooting in which 31 people were killed and 57 others wounded.

Sgt Maj 1st Class Jakrapanth Thomma, 32, of the Surathampithak army camp, shot dead Col Anantharot Krasae; Anong Mitchan, his commander's mother-in-law; and Pitthaya Kaewpro over a real-estate deal at Anong's home on a military base.

Gen Apirat Kongsompong, while serving as army chief last year, had vowed to bring back transparency and accountability to the barracks. He admitted the army had long been marred by irregularities in many projects ranging from welfare housing and loans involving cooperation between military units and merchants.

Lt Gen Santipong said the army's 36 golf courses would be developed. The Suan Son Pradipat Army Rehabilitation and Recreation Centre in Prachuap Khiri Khan has been turned into a commercial welfare business.

Two golf courses in Ram Intra in Bangkok and Lanna at Kavila camp in Chiang Mai were preparing the necessary documentation. The 33 other golf courses would remain as welfare facilities for military units, said the army spokesman.

As for three boxing stadiums, the army has permanently closed down two of them at Adisorn military camp in Saraburi and Suranaree camp in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae has set up a panel to study the Lumpini boxing stadium, which may be developed into a place of business or a sports development centre. In the future It may no longer stage boxing matches, but focus instead on sports learning such as boxing, judo and taekwando.

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