BANGKOK, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Royal Army (RTA) and the Ministry of Finance's Treasury Department on Monday have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) noting that all state holdings under the Thai Army will now be administered and managed by the Treasury Department.
Thai Army Commander General Apirat Kongsompong and Treasury Department director-general Yuttana Yimgarund signed an MoU to ensure that the commercial use of state property and welfare system under the RTA, complies with proper regulations, RTA Chief of Staff General Teerawat Boonyawat said in a press briefing.
"What the Army has done today is to bring back legitimacy and transparency," Teerawat said.
The move to hand over state holdings from the Royal Thai Army to the Finance Ministry came after Army Commander Gen. Apirat decided to have the RTA wash its hands off all commercial businesses administered by the RTA, including welfare scheme.
Earlier in February, a junior non-commissioned soldier carried out a mass shooting, killing nearly 30 people and injuring over 50.
The frenzied soldier-turned-shooter owned five legally-registered guns, including three pistols, one shotgun and a rifle, which were all bought under the army's "welfare gun" program.
"Not only will the Army transfer its land holdings, commercial businesses and welfare program to the Finance Ministry, soldiers will now on be screened carefully by superiors before being allowed to buy guns," said the Army Commander.
