Royal Thai Army
The Royal Thai Army or RTA (Thai: กองทัพบกไทย; rtgs: Kong Thap Bok Thai) is the army of Thailand responsible for protecting its sovereignty. It is the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. It is the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the 1855 Bowring Treaty with Britain, which opened the country for international trade.
On 22 May 2014 the army deposed the government, appointed military officers to the national assembly, and on 21 August 2014 they elected the army's Commander in Chief, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as prime minister. The general retired October 2014 to concentrate on political reform which he said would take at least a year, following which he promised national elections would be held.
Observers have noted a power struggle in 2016 between the factions of the Thai army and their support of different heirs. The largest faction conflict is between the Queen's Guard Regiment, who support the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, while the King's Guard soldiers, and other royalists, support the king's second daughter, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
On 24 December 2015 the RTA broke ground for a new auditorium, formally called the "Royal Thai Army International Forum". The 2.3 billion baht (US$64 million) facility will replace an existing 58 year-old auditorium. The building is due to be completed in 2019. The ground floor auditorium will accommodate 500 people, an office, a press room, and a reception hall. The first floor will include a party room for 500 people. The second floor will hold a second auditorium for 3,000 people and a reception hall. The basement car park is designed to accommodate 400 vehicles.
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