New taskforce set up to help NCPO

THE National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has set up a strategic taskforce led by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan to help drive the junta’s work, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

The strategic taskforce needs help from the military and, hence General Prawit is suitable for the job as he is familiar with the armed forces, Prayut explained. Though the duties and functions of the new taskforce are unclear, Prayut said it would work alongside his government. Prawit as deputy premier is in charge of security matters. 

Prayut said his government would oversee the workflow of ministries and government agencies to see if they meet its policies and objectives of reducing inequality, fighting corruption, protecting the environment and maintaining law and order in the country among others. 

The National Reform Council and the National Legislative Assembly are also under the government’s supervision, he pointed out. 

The NCPO was set up after the May 22 military takeover initially to run the country, but it has been functioning as a policymaker and providing guidance to the government since Prayut took over as prime minister. Prayut has retained his position as NCPO chief, while Prawit remains his deputy. 

Prayut explained the taskforce would take care of strategic work, while he and the government would oversee work at the operational level. 

“The Cabinet and I will follow the work of officials at all levels to see if they are working effectively and efficiently and whether they are corrupt,” he said. 

“I will also check to see where the national budget goes in the government system. I believe we can do a better job than an elected government because I can integrate all ministries, which were previously divided among different political parties in the coalition. All ministries will be run under a common policy,” he added. 

Prayut said he had told all ministers at a Cabinet meeting yesterday to publicise their work as some important tasks they were working on were still unknown to the public. He pointed out that the work of the Damrongtham Centre, which is responsible of accepting complaints, Sufficient Agriculture Economy Centre, community markets and many tasks on the rural front were not publicised. 

“Maybe I meet the media too often, so people only know me and don’t listen to any other ministers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prawit told Cabinet about the huge reshuffle in the police recently and Prayut explained that the authorities were checking to see if officers who had been demoted were actually involved in the alleged scandals. 

As for the next Army chief, Prayut said he still had no idea about the matter.

“It might be the fate and fortune or an order from heaven for anyone who works well to take the job. Don’t worry about whether or not he would come from the Chan-o-cha clan,” he said, referring to speculation that his younger brother Preecha was next in line to take the job.