The Defence Ministry has launched a revamped version of "Nong Kiew Koi", a mascot it uses to promote national reconciliation and unity.
The first version of the mascot was criticised for looking shabby, as it was made using old materials.
The new version cost 30,000 baht -- 20,000 baht for the mascots and 10 dresses costing 1,000 baht each for presenters, said Col Wanchana Sawasdee, assistant spokesman and deputy director of the public relations division of the ministry.
The budget came from the public relations subcommittee on reconciliation.
"We don't want people to focus on the budget but rather the importance of the mascot, which represents unity and reconciliation," he said.
The mascot was introduced on Thursday afternoon at the Victory Monument, where officers handed out pamphlets on the social contract drafted by the junta last year. The goal is to "promote awareness and understanding".
A QR code on the mascot links to a web page featuring the full social contract.
Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Trantrawanich said Nong Kiew Koi would become the “reconciliation ambassador” to promote love and unity among Thais and create awareness and understanding of the social contract.
The mascot is scheduled to meet all Thais under the Thai Niyom project from March 20 to April 10, he said.
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