June 23, 1999
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| June 23, 1999 | atimes.com | |
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| Southeast Asia Army chief pushes downsizing of military By Ron Corben BANGKOK - Marking an ambitious reform plan, Thailand'sarmy chief seeks to drastically reduce the country's armedforces, emphasising efficiency, without looking to purchase moreweaponry. The reforms under General Surayudh Chulanont aimto reduce the armed forces by 20 percent over the next decade to190,000 personnel. The streamlining is politically significant for Thailand's250,000-strong army, which has a long tradition of politicalintervention leading to 17 coups or coup attempts since 1932. In an interview with Thai media Monday, General Surayudh,appointed in October, said his priority is to make the Thai army,''small but efficient." The process, he said, represents a ''daunting task'' and heruled out purchases of more advanced weaponry. The moves also involve force restructuring, the affected units including specialwarfare divisions, and the disbanding of three army corps coveringthe Central, North and Northeastern regions. The Defense Ministry's budget allocation in 1999 amounted to77.07 billion baht ($2.08 billion), or just over 9percent of the government's total budget of 825 billion baht ($22.3billion). Little change is forecast in the next budget allocation into2000, marking a reduced share from the total budget. A senior military analyst said the strategy represents''radical reform.'' He added: ''It is in line with what isexpected, but he is doing away with core leadership''. Significantly, the reforms are part of wider efforts by PrimeMinister Chuan Leekpai - who is also defense minister - to give theministry greater control over the three armed services. General Surayudh said: ''The plan is that within the next 10years we will reduce the number [of personnel] by 46,000 to atotal of 190,000, which I think is the most suitable size." Naturally, the senior analyst said, there are a lot of peoplewithin the services ''unhappy with these moves''. General Surayudh is ''really the one in charge as long Prime Minister Chuan is in power. But if the PM is out of office, Surayudh might be in jeopardy,'' he said. The quickening in the reform process comes amid an overallshift away from the armed forces' role in Thai politics. This trend began not too long after a February 1991 coup.Fifteen months later, the Army's suppression of pro-democracyprotests in 1992 left at least 50 protesters dead and 600 wounded -and fueled popular clamor for an end to the military's role inpolitics and the upholding of civilian rule. The mild-mannered General Surayudh has on several occasionssaid the Thai armed forces should stay away from politics and from directinvolvement in matters of foreign affairs. Surayudh had also earlier called for an end to the country'ssystem of conscription with the creation of a full-timeprofessional army of volunteers - but budgetary constraints remainan issue. Analysts said more radical reform may have been considered butthe Thai army chief is looking to ''what is attainable within thepolitical climate, the internal political climate of the army andthe budget realities''. In recent days, he has voiced his support for publication ofthe army's official report into the 1992 suppression of pro-democracy protests, saying it provides ''a lesson'' for allparties concerned. ''The incident should be used as a lesson to improve theworking style and cooperation in our society,'' he said. He saidsuch a conflict, in which Thais kill each other, should never berepeated. The Chuan government has also ruffled feathers within themilitary by reforms that include the prime minister's asking themilitary to reveal financial accounts as far as 10 years back. Not everyone agrees that Thailand needs a drastically smaller military. The Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy(PERC) has warned that the economiccrisis may have ''blinded'' Thai leaders to security risks. ''While Thailand reduces its military budget and manpower,[neighboring] Burma now spends 40 per cent of the national budgeton the military,'' PERC said in its latest Asian Intelligence report. ''The number of men in uniform [in Burma] has doubled in thepast decade and now stands at almost 400,000,'' the report said. PERC said while there have been few complaints from militaryleaders about their diminished role, ''all Thai governments mustbe vigilant'' to the threat of coups. ''There are officers [of dubious character and records] risingup through the ranks, but they will pose risks to security only ifelected civilian governments fail to hold on to their supremeauthority,'' the Hong Kong-based group said. (Inter Press Service) | |||||||||
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