Thai PM: Part of new Cabinet line-up will be senior military officers

BANGKOK, August 30 (TNA) Newly-appointed Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief, says that part of his new Cabinet line-up, set to be announced by next month, will be senior military officers. Speaking to the public during his weekly address on Friday night, General Prayuth insisted that the inclusion of senior military officers, both active and retired ones, in his new Cabinet line-up is necessary to help work in security issues. General Prayuth acknowledged that a portion of the military officers joining in his new Cabinet will come from the NCPO and most of the military Cabinet members will be tasked with security affairs, while civilian ones will be responsible for other portfolios under his interim administration. The new prime minister vowed to perform his duties during his expected one-year term for public and national interests, including solving and dealing with major problems, namely corruption and preparations for Thailand in all spheres toward the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. According to the NCPO's roadmap, the interim government will be in office for one year and there will be a new elected government from a fresh national poll thereafter. (TNA)