Thai PM advises NRC members to mull defence ministry's guidelines

BANGKOK, October 11 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has suggested that the newly-formed National Reform Council (NRC) use the Ministry of Defence's information as guidelines for working out national reform in 11 targeted areas. Speaking during his weekly address on Friday night, General Prayut, who is also Chief of the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPC), acknowledged that the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence has gathered relevant information and public opinions on the 11 area-national reform and they should, thus, become guidelines or reference for the 250 NRC members while working out national reform plans. So far, 180 out of 250 national reform councilors, whose appointment by the NCPC was recently endorsed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, have reported themselves to the Secretariat to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). All the 250 NRC members are required to report themselves to the NLA Secretariat from October 8-15. During his weekly address, the prime minister also told the public that his government will promote eco-tourism, in which local farmers are invited to provide home-stay services to international tourists, aimed to not only raise income for local farmers but also promote Thai rice and rice farming internationally. The prime minister said that he has ordered agencies concerned, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, to jointly work out ecotourism models for farmers. The prime minister also vowed to take legal action against landlords who force farmers leasing their farmlands to share rice subsidy money the government targets to only give to local farmers. (TNA)