Thai army chief has no concerns over mobile Cabinet meeting in late June

BANGKOK, June 8 (TNA) - Thai Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr says he has no concerns over the upcoming mobile Cabinet meeting, set to be held in Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok Provinces in the Thai North from June 29-30. General Udomdej, who is also Thai Deputy Defence Minister, told journalists on Monday that he expects the new mobile Cabinet meeting should happen smoothly, ensuring that both soldiers and police will secure the meeting's venues although there has not been any movement of opponents. The army chief praised local people for their cooperation, noting that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha will then have chances to listen to their problems directly during the upcoming mobile Cabinet meeting. The army chief insisted that he has no worries although both the northern venues of the new mobile Cabinet meeting are political strongholds of exiled ex-Thai prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, as the 3rd Army Area Command has informed local people of the government’s serious efforts to solve their problems and maintain national order. Regarding some national reform councilors’ proposal for the prime minister to remain in office for two more years to finish national reform before the new general election, the Thai army chief stressed that the prime minister has no intention to prolong power and his interim government has adhered to the national reform roadmap. (TNA)