Generous to the military, a miser towards suffering civilians
In August last year the Thai Air Force bought two Russian planes, each costing US$34 million, as transport for bigwigs.
In October Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and his 38-strong entourage chartered a Boeing 747 to Hawaii for a meeting, at a cost of Bt20.9 million.
Moreover, this government is planning to equip the Navy with three Chinese submarines for a cool $1 billion, bringing to mind the aircraft carrier that’s gathering dust with no aircraft to carry.
Meanwhile, our prime minister is driven around in the biggest and blackest armoured Mercedes-Benz S600, worth a whopping Bt19.5 million, with an identical one for a back-up. Not even German Chancellor Angela Merkel has that privilege.
Yet when it comes to caring for its citizens, the government suddenly becomes a miser, asking the public for donations to help flood victims in the South.
Somsak Pola
