Thai junta increases budget for honoring King by 20 per cents

 

After the coup d’état in May, Thailand’s national budget for honouring the royal family has increased significantly by approximately 20 per cent from around 14 billion baht or about US$435 million this year to over 17 billion baht or about US$536 million next year.

The budget for preserving the honour of the royal household in 2015 will exceed the budget allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and five other ministries.    

If divided by time, an annual budget for preserving the honour of the monarchy will cost:

32,854 baht or US$1,019 per minute

1,971,262 baht or US$61,168 per hour

47,310,290 baht or US$1,468,038 per day

On Tuesday, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) reached consensus to pass the budget for honouring the royal family in 2015, proposed by the parliamentary committee, which has now been published in the royal gazette.

The budget for honouring the royal family, which is distributed to public agencies to print posters of the royal family members, build monuments, and organize events on important occasions relating to the monarchy, such as HM the King’s Birthday which also doubles Father’s Day.

For the first time, the budget allocates funds for honouring the monarchy to three new institutions after the coup d’état: the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, the Department of Employment, and the Department of Skill Development.

The budget for honouring the royal family will be allocated to a total of 18 public institutions:

Ministry of Finance and Budget Bureau

Article 4 (1) Budget for Royal Projects, 2.5 billion baht

Article 4 (2) Budget for traveling expenses and welcoming other head of states, 800 million baht

Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office

Article 5 (1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy 136 million baht

Secretariat of the Prime Minister

Article 5 (4/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 5.6 billion baht

Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior

Article 6 (1/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 889 million baht

Royal Aide-De-Camp Department

Article 6 (2/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 620 million baht

Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters

Article 6 (3/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 93 million baht

Royal Thai Army

Article 6 (4/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 310 million baht

Royal Thai Navy

Article 6 (5/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 12 million baht

Royal Air Force

Article 6 (6/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 35 million baht

Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior

Article 17 (1/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 70 million baht

Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning

Article 17 (6/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 865 million baht

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour

Article 19 (1/5) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 5 million baht

Department of Employment

Article 19 (2/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 8 million baht

Department of Skill Development

Article 19 (3/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 34 million baht

Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary

Article 25 (1/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 829 million baht

Bureau of the Royal Household

Article 25 (2/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 3.3 billion baht

Office of Royal Development Projects Board

Article 25 (4/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 674 million baht

Royal Thai Police

Article 25 (7/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 501 million baht 

 

 

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