MINISTRIES POOL IDEAS ON INTELLIGENCE

The ministries of defence, interior and foreign affairs will join forces to
boost intelligence and improve national security.

Defence spokesman Col Jongsak Panichkul said the heads of the three
ministries met on Monday and agreed to consolidate intelligence co-operation.

This is the first time the Interior Ministry has got involved, he said,
adding that co-ordinating centres would be set up at regional and
provincial levels to ensure close co-operation.

The ministries are especially concerned about transnational crime and
terrorist groups which use Thailand as a base to attack neighbouring countries.

Col Jongsak said they would deal with refugees along the Burmese border and
come up with measures to stamp out drug abuse and trafficking.

They proposed that convicted drug addicts be sent to military camps for
rehabilitation and treatment, rather than prison.

The Foreign Ministry was asked to secure the co-operation of the Burmese
government in stamping out narcotics manufacturing.

Col Jongsak said the Defence Ministry would work through personal ties with
the junta.