Fighting the wrong war

The fury, and desperation, reflected by people's criticism of the army's arms procurement plan in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak should be taken into account, not suppressed or politicised.

Earlier this week, public outrage was sparked by media reports of an announcement by the army's Ordnance Department regarding its procurement of 4.5 billion baht worth of US-made Stryker armoured personnel carriers. According to the announcement, the procurement was planned for this month.

The reports sparked heavy criticism over the army's alleged desire to march forward with its procurement plans while the country is struggling to cope with the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 20 million people affected by the lockdown have applied for cash assistance from the state, but only about nine million will receive help. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted that state coffers are running low when the government issued a royal decree to borrow 1.9 trillion baht to shore up the rapidly deflating economy and offer relief packages.

The prime minister also asked every ministry to give up 10% of its 2020 budget to contribute to a central fund to fight the virus crisis.

According to reports, the 4.5 billion baht was destined buy 50 armoured vehicles with weapons and a technical service package.

People's reactions online were ferocious. Why is the army buying armoured vehicles when citizens are dying? The government was asking for donations yesterday, but today it is buying armoured vehicles? Is this how the Thai government provides for its people? What use are the carriers when what people need is hospital beds? Do you really think people can eat armoured vehicles instead of rice?

These questions, along with a strong emotional backlash, sent hashtags about the Strykers and the government's insensitivity to the top of those trending on Twitter. The Thai government is fighting Covid-19 with tanks? The outrage was simply endless as thousands of people vented their scorn online.

Eventually, army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong came out to quash the reports. He said the army will delay the 4.5-billion-baht procurement until the next fiscal year.

The move is part of the Defence Ministry's 18-billion-baht budget cut as requested by the prime minister to help the government fight the coronavirus outbreak, according to army spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree.

The spokesman emphasised that the amount of budget the army willingly slashed was more than half. He also indicated that the Stryker deal was beneficial for the country as the US Army would throw in about 80 armoured vehicles on top of the 50 purchased for free.

But people are not questioning whether the purchase of the carriers is a good deal or not. What most of them are asking is whether the military weaponry is necessary when the country is not at war.

Indeed, the country obviously has other more pressing needs that 4.5 billion baht could meet. What people are really desperate to ascertain is what good the Strykers are for Thai people, many of whom can hardly make ends meet.

The army did a good job in cutting its budget by half and delaying the purchase of the Strykers. But eventually, it will need to answer this question: What use is such weaponry to the general public now?

The same old vague answer that the country needs to prepare for a potential war is no longer good enough, it seems.