Ministry of Defence (Thailand)

Kingdom of Thailand
Ministry of Defence
กระทรวงกลาโหม

Seal of the Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defense building, opposite Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Ministry overview
Formed 8 April 1887
Jurisdiction Government of Thailand
Headquarters Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
Annual budget 192,949,090,200 Baht (2015)
Ministers responsible
Ministry executive
  • General Preecha Chan-O-Cha, Permanent Secretary
Website MOD.go.th

The Ministry of Defence (Thai: กระทรวงกลาโหม; rtgs: Krasuang Kalahom; Abrv: MOD), is a cabinet-level government department of the Kingdom of Thailand. The ministry controls and manages the Royal Thai Armed Forces to maintain national security, territorial integrity, and national defence. The armed forces of Thailand composed of three branches: the Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, and Royal Thai Air Force.

Although the king of Thailand is the supreme head of the Thai armed forces (Thai: จอมทัพไทย) his position is only nominal. The ministry and the forces are administered by an appointed politician, the Minister of Defence, a member of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post of Minister of Defence has been held by General Prawit Wongsuwon, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, since August 2014.

History

Samuha Kalahom redirects here

Initially the Ministry was called "Samuha Kalahom" (Thai: สมุหกลาโหม) or Kalahom Department, and was charged with the protection the southern border. It was founded in the late Ayutthaya period and was retained in the Rattanakosin period. The ministry in its current form was formed in 1887, by the order of King Chulalongkorn, to create a permanent military command. This was a result of the increasing threat posed by Western powers. The ministry was first housed in an old horse and elephant stable opposite the Grand Palace. A new European-style building was built to house it. At first the ministry only commanded the army (founded in 1847), it then incorporated the navy (founded in 1887), and finally the air force (founded in 1913). In 1914, King Vajiravudh determined that the act providing for invoking martial law, first promulgated by his father in 1907, was not consistent with modern laws of war nor convenient for the preservation of the external or internal security of the state, so it was changed to the modern form that, with minor amendments, continues to be in force.[1]

Structure

Office
Ministry of Defense
Minister
รัฐมนตรีว่าการ
General Prawit Wongsuwon
Deputy Minister
รัฐมนตรีช่วยว่าการ
General Udomdej Sitabutr
Permanent Secretary
ปลัดกระทรวง
General Preecha Chan-O-Cha
Deputy Permanent Secretary
รองปลัดกระทรวง
Admiral Anuthai Rattarangsi, General Chaichan Changmongkol, General Porpol Mandarin, Air Chief Marshal Siwakiat Jayema
Office
Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ
Chief of the Defense Forces
ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด
General Sommai Kaotira
Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces
รองผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด
General Wichien Sirisoonthorn, Admiral Prasarn Sukasetara, Air Chief Marshal Taworn Maneepluek, General Prasooth Rusmepate
Office
Royal Thai Army

Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Air Force
Commander-in-Chief
ผู้บัญชาการ
General Teerachai Nakwanich Admiral Na Arreenich Air Chief Marshal Treetod Sonjance
Deputy Commander-in-Chief
รองผู้บัญชาการ
General Walit Rochanapakdee Admiral Narongpol Nabangchang Air Chief Marshal Wattana Maneenai
Assistant Commander-in-Chief
ผู้ช่วยผู้บัญชาการ
General Rampant Ruddit
General Chalermchai Sitthisad
Admiral Graivut Vattanatham Air Chief Marshal Twidanes Angsusingha
Air Chief Marshal Padet Wongpinkaew
Chief of Staff
เสนาธิการ
General Pisit Sitthisarn Admiral Panlop Tamisanon Air Chief Marshal Johm Rungswang

Other agencies

Associated organizations

References

  1. Pakorn Nilprapunt (2006). "Martial Law, B.E. 2457 (1914) — unofficial translation" (PDF). thailawforum.com. Office of the Council of State. Retrieved May 21, 2014. Reference to Thai legislation in any jurisdiction shall be to the Thai version only. This translation has been made so as to establish correct understanding about this Act to the foreigners.


External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.