A secretive 13,625-man special operations force already deployed
across Thailand with a mission to quell unrest has been given funds
of 556 million baht (about US$15. 4 million) by the Cabinet, local
media reported Wednesday.
"The Council for National Security (CNS) asked to have its own
special force to maintain peace and the rule of law in our country.
The endorsement was in line with the interim constitution,"
government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said.
The CNS has asked the Cabinet to allocate 556 million baht (
about US$15.4 million) from the central fund, according to The
Nation newspaper.
Yongyuth said the funds would mostly go to pay for food,
overtime, materials and supplies, vehicle maintenance and fuel.
The CNS is expected to attract more criticism for using the fund
after it was attacked for supplementing its salaries and placing
military men at major state enterprises, the report said.
The military has been citing "undercurrents," or activities by
supporters of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as a political
threat. It fears mass demonstrations to oust the CNS, which seized
power from Thaksin's regime on September 19.
According to local reports, the 13,625-strong force of the "
Council for National Security's Special Operations Center" were
recruited from the armed forces and police, and are already
stationed at undisclosed locations.
The rapid deployment force began operating on December 1, and
Yongyuth said it would be dissolved along with the CNS, tentatively
on September 30 next year, which is the end of the fiscal year. The
budget would cover 305 days of operations in total. The CNS has
promised elections and a return to democracy by the end of
2007.
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2006)
