New PM to adopt Thai King's advice into government policies

BANGKOK, August 26 (TNA) - Newly-appointed Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also Thai Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief, has vowed to apply His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's guidelines into his administration's policies. When chairing the 12th NCPO meeting at the Royal Thai Army headquarters in Bangkok on Tuesday, General Prayuth said that he will adopt His Majesty the King's initiated Sufficiency Economy Principle and other guidelines, including sustainable development, to his government's efforts to develop the country's infrastructure, water management and agricultural zones, as well as to solve product problems, rehabilitate state enterprises and restructure taxes and energy. General Prayuth stressed despite the formation of his government soon, the NCPO boards will continue to function and exercise its authority only when it is necessary to maintain national security and order. The interim prime minister also told the NCPO to first enforce normal laws for the purpose before considering any measure under the martial law. Besides, the 29th Thai premier ordered the NCPO to quickly tackle corruption and other major national problems, namely the falling prices of natural rubber and other local farm products, as well as social problems. The new Thai premier also explained that special economic zones in border areas were not planned to prevent migrant workers from entering deeper inside Thailand, but they were intended to boost relations with neighboring countries and to solve transport and labor problems. The prime minister, meanwhile, denied the NCPO did special favors to some parties by giving them water management and solar power projects. (TNA)