Thai military focuses on economic woes

BANGKOK, May 25 (TNA) - Thailand’s military junta began meetings with senior finance and commerce ministry officials, bankers and business leaders to work on revitalizing the country’s battered economy, amidst scattered anti-army sentiment in the capital Bangkok. Air Force chief ACM Prajin Juntong, a military junta member in charge of economic affairs for the National Council for Peace and Order, acknowledged at the meeting that the state could first borrow some 40 billion baht from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to speed up overdue payment for Thai farmers who had pledged rice with the government. Discussions also included policy for the country's budget plan for the next fiscal year as well as measures to support the weakening private sector following six months of political turmoil. Officials from the energy ministry, oil and gas trade and transport companies were also summoned to review the risks of the political crisis on local transport and production. Since Friday, military police and soldiers deployed to keep peace and order in the capital Bangkok have confronted with small anti-coup protests, many with handwritten signs criticizing the army and demanding fresh elections. BTS skytrain stations at central business areas Chidlom and Ploenchit were also shut down temporarily after anti coup protesters gathered at Ratchaprasong and nearly clashed with rival anti-government protest group PDRC. Meanwhile, fourteen politically affiliated satellite and cable TV stations remain off air for allegedly inciting unrest, despite calls from activists for a lift on coup orders that restrict press freedom. According to Deputy Army Spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, other free-to-air TV, cable TV and satellite channels in Thailand are now broadcasting normal programs following a brief 25-hour period of suspension. Col. Sirichan said the National Council for Peace and Order will continue to use restrictive orders to supervise media reports until the return of peace and order to the country. (TNA)