The cabinet meeting on Tuesday 16, June 2009 has come to the following decisions:
The Cabinet approved the budget from fiscal year 2009 from the central budget (reserve budget) for emergency or necessary use, to the amount of 66,236,800 baht, to buy crowd-control equipment for seven of the Royal Thai Armed Forces’ companies, as proposed by the Ministry of Defense. The Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Defense to make an agreement with the Office of the Budget regarding the details.
Background : The demonstrations and disruptive incidents in March-April 2009 forced the Government to postpone the ASEAN Summit with Dialogue Partners. To prepare for future incidents, the Royal Thai Armed Forces therefore held workshops for personnel to be able to handle emergency situations, especially in using force for crowd control. The Royal Thai Armed Forces has identified three levels of urgency regarding the need for equipment, namely: most urgent need is for 7 companies, second most urgent need is for 10 companies, and third urgent need is for 43 companies, totaling 60 companies. In this connection, the Ministry of Defense was also assigned to ensure security of the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum meeting during 16-23 July 2009 at the Dusit Thani Laguna, Phuket.
he Cabinet approved the budget from fiscal year 2009 from the central budget (reserve budget) for emergency or necessary use, to the amount of 122,800,000 baht to buy 20 armored military vehicles, as proposed by the Ministry of Defense. The Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Defense to make an agreement with the Office of the Budget regarding the details.
Background : The Ministry of Defense reported to the Cabinet that, as the agency assigned to ensure security of the ASEAN Summit and related Summits, the Ministry was instructed by the Deputy Prime Minister (security issues) to purchase 20 armored military vehicles. However, local industries could not produce such vehicles on time, so there was a need to import. The situation in Pattaya in April 2009 not only caused the postponement of the meeting, but also posed as a threat to the lives and property of leaders. The need to ensure the safety of VIPs justifies the need to purchase such vehicles.
The Cabinet acknowledged the report of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports on their follow-up of the Cabinet resolution of 28 January 2009 on the options for cancellation of the privilege card within 2 weeks. The Ministry reported that the Ministry was in the process of verifying the numerous documents of the Thailand Privilege Card Co. Ltd., and when complete, the Ministry would report to the Cabinet.
The Cabinet acknowledged the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ initialing of the Protocol, as approved by the Cabinet on 28 April 2009, to promote the export of fruits to the PROC within the season. The Ministry assigned the Office of National Agricultural Standards and Ministry representatives to initial the Protocol with PROC counterparts in Beijing, PROC. Thailand will be able to export fruits via R9 road through provinces of Thailand-Laos-Vietnam-China. The Thai side requested PROC to consider approving the Quarantine Import Permit for the Thai side, which the PROC side had no objection.
The Cabinet acknowledged the negotiations with the Ministry of Forestry of the People’s Republic of China (PROC) regarding the Panda and the development of zoos, as proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The development and expansion of zoos would be a task assigned to the National Economic and Social Development Board, with the Office of the Budget supporting investment in related areas.
Background : The PROC gave one pair of pandas (Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui) as ambassadors of goodwill to Thailand in 2003 for the Zoological Organisation of Thailand to research on and exhibit the pandas in Thailand. The Zoological Organisation developed the living areas of the pandas, while conducting research and enforcing security. The exhibit was held at Chiangmai Zoo and was part of the celebration of HM the Queen’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. The pandas maintained good health and gave birth to one female cub on 27 May 2009 through artificial insemination, as the only panda cub born in 2009. The Thai side is negotiating for the pandas to stay in Thailand for a longer period than the 2-year duration agreed on for new cubs born. The Thai side also discussed with PROC counterparts the setting up of a permanent Thai-China Panda Research Center so that research could be continued, as well as for joint research and exchange. The Zoological Organisation also drafted a development plan for 5 existing zoos and expansion of 6 other zoos, which is in accordance with the Royal Decree on Zoos. The development of zoos will also increase the conservation area and natural tourism destinations, as well as rehabilitate forests.
--Cabinet Meeting (Abhisit Vejjajiva) June 16, 2009--