Thailand to co-chair ASEAN's specialist committees

BANGKOK, January 25 (TNA) - Thailand's Defence Council has approved a proposal of the Defence Ministry's ASEAN Committee that the Thai Kingdom should be the co-chairs of ASEAN's three specialist committees on peace-keeping, humanitarian and disaster-relief assistance and anti-terrorist operations. Defence Ministry Spokesman Major General Khongcheep Tantrawanich told journalists of the update on Monday, after a meeting of the Defence Council at the Ministry of Defence in Bangkok. The spokesman said the proposal will be forwarded to a meeting of ASEAN defence ministers late this year for further consideration and decision. The spokesman also stated that Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has ordered, as a precaution, units under his ministry and the Royal Thai Armed Forces to emphasize and intensify intelligence and seriously monitor the updated situation and the connectivity of groups tending to threaten local and regional security, in response to recent terror attacks overseas. Besides, local security authorities have also been instructed to increase precautions along the border and actively protect important offices and places nationwide. (TNA)