20-year plan is ‘foundation and pillars’ for democracy: PM

He said the plan would serve as the foundation and pillars in rebuilding the country for the future. General Prayut said he expected that the new government to be formed after the next election would follow the strategic plan laid out by his administration, although it was unlikely to be implemented in its entirety.

“We are doing the strategic plan for reform over the next 20 years. This is preparation for the country to become an international democracy,” he said.

“Many people want the country to become an international democracy and to look good in the eyes of the world community. But are we ready yet? We were ready in the past but the whole thing almost collapsed. “Today we need to rebuild our home and our country for the future ... there are no houses built without pillars. We need to have the foundation too.”

Prayut, who heads the National Council for Peace and Order, was giving an address on the national and military strategies for the 20-year period from 2017 at the National Defence College.

His audience included students from the National Defence College, Joint Staff College, Royal Thai Army War College, Naval War College, and Air War College.

The PM said that the plan was initiated by not just military figures but also civilians. “We have to build trust among civilians, police and the military. We are all Thais and we need to work together,” he said. 

He said that the country’s problems have accumulated over a long time and his government was focusing on tackling political problems, particularly involving conflict. “We all know well what the problem is, and its cause, but we can’t work together due to a lack of unity,” he said.