Soldiers have been given authority to enforce laws under the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedures Code to tackle encroachment on national parks, forests and public land under an executive order signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday.
He issued the order in his capacity as the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), exercising his power under Section 44 of the interim constitution. He cited inefficient law enforcement and leniency in the past as justification.
Under the executive order, ministers can seek the military's assistance by filing a request with the NCPO chief through the defence minister.
Officials conventionally tasked with law enforcement in that area must cooperate with the military or will be seen as committing serious disciplinary offences.
Gen Prayut said on Thursday that the order was aimed at allowing soldiers to team up with police to take legal action when there were not enough police to carry out forest protection tasks.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the measure would be only temporary and many ministries were seeking such military assistance to carry out their tasks.
"Influential persons in Thailand are more afraid of soldiers than police, possibly because soldiers show up after long intervals. There may be familiarity and interdependence with police and respect disappears," Mr Wissanu said.
