Army chief accepts budget cut

The army can take a budget cut during the flood crisis, national army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday.

"If the government decides to slash the budget of the Defence Ministry and the military by 10 per cent, we'll have to accept the situation.

"Our munitions might not yield optimum results but our soldiers have the heart to perform to their utmost," Gen Prayuth said.

Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa (left)
and national army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha visit
a flooded area in Nonthaburi province on Oct 29, 2011

On the government's decision to appoint former finance minister Virabongsa Ramangura as chairman of the national rehabilitation committee and Chaipattana Foundation

secretary-general Sumet Tantivejkul as adviser to the water resources management committee, the army chief said the government can appoint anyone but he hoped that they would be able to perform well and solve the flood problem.