New Thai Cabinet to hold first meeting Sept 9

BANGKOK, September 5 (TNA) - The new Thai Cabinet, led by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, will hold its first meeting at Bangkok's Government House on September 9, after all Cabinet members were sworn in before His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital on Thursday evening. General Prayuth told journalists, after the swearing-in ceremony, that he will also start working at the Government House on September 9. Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krue-ngam said the Cabinet's first meeting is likely to discuss the interim government's policies to be later presented to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), with major policies to be then published and distributed to the public. Wisanu revealed that the new Cabinet will hold its weekly meeting on Tuesdays, as practiced in the past, while NLA members will meet on Thursdays and Fridays. According to the deputy premier, it is the duty of the military to consider on lifting the martial law, imposed after the military took control of the national administrative power on May 22, 2014, and to submit its proposed decision to the Cabinet for further consideration. Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office ML Panadda Diskul told reporters that the Cabinet's first meeting is expected to also discuss important tasks to be implemented by each ministry, while the prime minister is expected to give operational guidelines for each ministry. Meanwhile, new Deputy Foreign Minister Don Poramatwinai acknowledged it is unnecessary for new Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapakorn or his representatives to travel abroad for the time being to explain why the martial law enforcement has been maintained, as the issue can be raised at meetings with top foreign envoys stationed in Thailand. (TNA)