PM pledges hands-off on military affairs
Play
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday vowed the government would not meddle in military affairs but work with the top brass to ensure security, reconciliation and peace.
“The government and armed forces share the same aspirations, including the heeding of the royal advice to address the plight of the people,” she said following her introductory visit to the Defence Ministry.
Yingluck said civilian and military leaders would work in concerted effort to safeguard the sovereignty and the monarchy.
As an immediate priority, the government and the military would focus on post-flooding reconstruction, she said, adding future cooperation would see the involvement of the military in infrastructure development.
Commenting on the thorny issue of amending the Defence Ministry Administration Act to curb the military power on job assignments, she said the issue has not come up at this juncture.
She said her government and the military would strive to prevent abuses being heaped on the monarchy, pledging to bring about a better understanding in the face of royal insults.
“I don’t want fault any group since I believe in the loyalty of everyone and their good intentions to advance the country,” she said.
Led by Defence Ministry Yuthasak Sasiprapha, the top brass organised a fanfare welcoming ceremony for the first female prime minister.
At the start of her visit, PM Yingluck paid respect to the picture of King Chulalongkorn, founder of the modern armed forces, before inspecting the Guard of Honour.
Yuthasak gave a briefing on his ministerial work before hosting a luncheon.
In a gesture of strengthening government-military ties, the prime minister is planning to visit the Army, Navy and Air Force in due course.
