Thailand Ministry of Defence FDC

Thailand FDC
Name: 120th Anniversary of the Ministry of Defence
Issue date: 2007 November 11th
Number: 830

Purpose:
To commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Ministry of Defence.

Design:
Illustrate the royal portraits of Their Majesties King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) with the Ministry of Defence building and the emblem in the background.

Thailand's military affairs came into existence at the same time when the kingdom of Thailand was established. They have subsequently developed from Sukhothai period through Rattanakosin era. In the reign of King Rama the fifth,our great beloved King systemized the thai military for the purposes of defending the country, maintaining Thailand's freedom, integrity and sovereignty and keeping abreast with civilized countries. The King brought the army and the navy under the command of his royal highness prince (Mahavajirunahidh) the crown prince. On april 8,1887, the King issued a decree to establish the war department, during that period, the thai military affairs were extensively developed and modernized in pursuit of those of civilized countries. Later on, april 1,1890, the war department was upgraded to the war ministry with the army and the navy under its command. In the reign of King Rama the sixth, the war ministry was changed into the ministry of defence. It's responsibility was only for the army as the navy was separated to become the navy ministry after world war I, the navy ministry was joined to the ministry of defence on november 8,1931 and the air force was established on april 9, 1937. Since then there have been three armed services in the ministry of defence. Namely army, navy and air force.

The thai armed forces have been continuously developed to be as advanced as those in civilized countries. There are some major changes in organizational structures,education, training, operations and others in order to implement authority and responsibility as specified in the present constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. Article 72 of the constitution states that the state is required to provide military forces in order to protect it's independence, stability, the monarchy, national interests, democracy with constitutional monarchy and to develop the country.

In 1960, the role and the duty of the ministry of defence were defined in article 4 of the ministry of defence act. The article states that the ministry of defence has authority and duty in defending and maintaining the stability of the Kingdom from external and internal threats. The military force is established to protect the monarchy, to fight the rebels and the riots, to develop the country and to protect the national interests as defined by law.

Website of the Thailand Ministry of Defence