ASEAN chief recommends four changes for Thai armed forces

BANGKOK, March 8 (TNA) - Secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan has recommended that the Royal Thai Armed Forces prepare for the ASEAN single community over the next three years by focusing on security operations, changing attitudes and values, promoting inter-organizational cooperation and improving intelligence. Surin made the remarks at a seminar on the preparation of Thailand's armed forces for the establishment of the ASEAN single community by 2015, held at the Army Club in Bangkok on Thursday on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of Thailand's Defence Technology Institute. Surin told the seminar that the world has been changing rapidly and the 10-member ASEAN bloc needs its own forum and defence and should not depend on global forums, urging Thailand to also have its own forum and defence capabilities which will also support regional security and cope with the global changes. The ASEAN secretary-general, who is also a former Thai foreign minister, said that the Royal Thai Armed Forces also need to prepare themselves for peace-keeping missions, as ASEAN has taken part in UN-led peace-keeping operations, citing such operations in Timor, Sudan and Aceh. According to the visiting ASEAN chief, firstly the personnel of the Royal Thai Armed Forces are to change their attitudes and to improve their language skills which are essential for communications and opinion exchanges. Secondly, the Royal Thai Armed Forces are to understand new values. Thirdly, the Thai military is to join forces with relevant organizations to solve security issues and other problems, citing the Royal Thai Army’s cooperation with neighbouring countries to contain forest fires as an example. Fourthly, the Royal Thai Armed Forces are to improve their intelligence. Besides, the ASEAN chief urged for research projects on the changing regional and global situation to protect national interests, saying, however, that he believes the Royal Thai Armed Forces can adjust themselves and ensure national security. Regarding the ASEAN Community, the ASEAN secretary-general suggested that, apart from economic and political affairs, the third pillar of the regional integration is the society and cultures, as ASEAN does not want people in each country to lose their identities but accepts regional diversity and without care steps, ASEAN member countries may be led in the same direction toward benefits, investment and profits only; therefore, the Thai private sector should be prepared for avoiding the impacts. At the seminar, at which a discussion on the readiness of Thailand for the ASEAN Community by 2015 and an exhibition on researches and development by the Defence Technology Institute including multi-barrel missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were also included, The ASEAN chief called for international cooperation on security affairs and intelligence as well. (TNA)