WIDER MILITARY ROLE BACKED

Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun says he backs a plan to give
more authority to the military.

Mr Purachai said he was willing to back soldiers playing a bigger
role as officers of the state, besides their drug suppression role,
on condition they boned up on the law.

``If possible and appropriate, [soldiers] should be given [more]
authority. But we must look at the details.

``I accept that the military helps us much with drug prevention and
suppression now,'' he said.

Changes to the law were needed to allow officers to perform the
functions of Corrections Department officers on drug rehabilitation.

Mr Purachai suggested training for soldiers, saying navy officers
should be educated about criminal legal proceedings so they could
efficiently combat piracy and oil smuggling.