Thai Defence Minister leaves for ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting

BANGKOK, May 6 (TNA) - Thai Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat has left Bangkok for Brunei to attend the 7th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, set for May 6-8. ACM Sukumpol told reporters before leaving Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport that the meeting would discuss projects designed to increase interaction among military forces of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to advance their cooperation in areas concerning humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Sukumpol said ASEAN defence ministers were expected to sign a joint declaration on security of ASEAN citizens. He said he would also hold a bilateral meeting with his Indonesian counterpart. Meanwhile, the Thai defence minister commented on the victory of Malaysia’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Najib Razak in the country’s 13 general election, saying that it would certainly benefit the peace dialogue between the Thai government and a Muslim insurgent group. He also said that there was no need to suspend the peace talks despite the recent surge in violence in the deep South but said military officials had to work harder to quell the violence. (TNA)