New Thai Army Chief Appointed

[george]

New Thai army chief appointed

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has its new military commanders in an annual military reshuffle which sees General Anupong Paochinda as the new Army Chief, ending weeks of media speculation.

In a royal command which takes effect on October 1, General Anupong Paochinda, assistant army chief, has been promoted to the new army chief. He will succeed Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who is facing mandatory retirement age of 60 at the end of September.

Another contender for the top post, General Saprang Kalayanamitr, also assistant army commander-in-chief, has been appointed a deputy permanent secretary for Defence.

The generals are key figures in the coup-making Council for National Security (CNS) which toppled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last year.

Earlier, political observers feared tension might escalate should General Saprang not be promoted to the most powerful position in Thai military.

General Sonthi, also CNS chairman, however, play downs fears about political turmoil, expressing confidence there would not be any instability as feared.

--TNA 2007-09-19

[bulmercke]

General Saprang Kalayanamitr won't like this at all. He's an extremely ambitious fellow.

[John K]

Well this answers question #2 of 3.

Who has a profile handy they can post?

[roietjimmy]

General Saprang Kalayanamitr won't like this at all. He's an extremely ambitious fellow.

Indeed he is but I'm sure Gen Sonthi is quite aware of this and has made sure the "best interests" of Gen Saprangs are maintained.

[Mid]

Cabinet approves position with rank equivalent to field marshal

September 19, 2007 : Last updated 06:49 pm

The Defence Ministry Tuesday sought and received a Cabinet approval to create a new advisory position to be filled by a senior general with a rank equivalent to field marshal.

The position is tasked to advise on defence affairs and classified as a temporary appointment to be terminated by retirement of office holder.

The ministry has justified its new position as giving its leeway to shuffle senior officers.

The Nation

to day .............

[Mid]

New Thai army chief seen as pro-palace moderate

Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:25pm IST

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's King Bhumibol has approved Anupong Paochinda as the country's next army chief to succeed Sonthi Boonyaratglin who led the coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra exactly one year ago.

"Everyone agrees that Anupong is the most suitable person, both brains and brawn. He is a good and clean man," Sonthi told Reuters after the palace announcement.

Anupong, a vice chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), the name the coup leaders have given themselves, is seen as a less political officer than the other front runner, Saprang Kalayanamitr.

"His profile is more professional and less politicised, and he is close to the palace," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a Chulanlongkorn University political analyst, wrote in a commentary earlier this month.

Sonthi has remained coy about his plans after retiring at the end of September, fuelling speculation he may enter politics.

snip

in.reuters.com

[Mid]

Thai coup leader appointed new army chief

The Associated PressPublished: September 19, 2007

snip

Also Wednesday, Gen. Saprang Kalayanamit, an outspoken coup leader and deputy army commander, was appointed to be deputy permanent secretary of the Defense Ministry.

iht.com

[A_Traveller]

A very brief summary:-

Anupong was considered to have a major drawback due to his past association with Thaksin, he was a classmate of Thaksin's at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, although he's alwasy been considered to be an exemplary commander.

Anupong retains strong loyalty from battalion commanders but he has a relatively small base of support among top generals, especially after his Pre-Cadet Class 10 colleagues were sidelined after the coup. However, as commander of the 1st Army Area, Anupong controlled the troops in the central part of the country and no coup could have enjoyed success without his sending troops to control key areas on the night of last Sept. 19.

Anupong, who has said soldiers belong to the army, the country and the king rather than to the political leadership, showed decisively once he became convinced Thaksin had fallen into cronyism that the country was more important than a long standing friendship.

These circumstances identify Anupong as a prime mover for the coup but his record shows his distance from politics per se.

The view is expressed that with Anupong getting the position, politics have an opportunity to be back on course. Anupong has shown a propensity to focus on making command decisions. As an example, previous command-focused chiefs have included Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

HTH

Regards

[John K]

I don’t know why yet but I am getting a bit of an uneasy feeling about this. However seeing as the top signed off on him, I will see what happens without further comment prior to his taking some form of action.

[Jai Dee]

NIDA Rector says new army chief can stabilize politics

Rector of the National Institute of Development Administration, Sombat Thamrongthanyawong (สมบัติ ธำรงธัญวงศ์), expresses his belief that the new army chief can strengthen the army and ensure stability in politics.

Gen.Anupong Paochinda (อนุพงษ์ เผ่าจินดา) has been recenlty hand-picked to hold post of the new Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army.

Mr Sombat says Gen.Anupong is suitable for the post as he is very experienced and has capability to lead the army. The rector also says he believes that the new army chief can increase credibility and unite the army as seen by his past experiences.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 September 2007

[Jai Dee]

Deputy CNS Chairman confident in capabilities of new Army Chief

The Deputy Chairman of the Council for National Security is confident in the capabilities of the new Army Commander in Chief.

Royal Thai Air Force Commander in Chief and Deputy Chairman of the Council for National Security Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukbhasuk (ชลิต พุกผาสุก ) believes that newly appointed Army Commander in Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda (นุพงศ์ เผ่าจินดา) will be fully capable of carrying out his duties and will create an efficient and united Army. ACM Chalit reports that the Council for National Security will also continue to carry out its duties until the end of its 1 year term, despite the retirement of Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin from civil service.

ACM Chalit said that the next goverment will consider whether to appoint Gen. Sonthi to the new position of Deputy Prime Minister for National Security. ACM Chalit added allegations that CNS members received bribes from Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit (สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ ) to dismiss investigations in the CTX 9000 case are fallacious while criticism directed towards Gen. Sonthi will subside over time as the beneficial results of the CNS Chairman's work become apparent.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 September 2007

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Anupong did not conduct open house on occasion of promotion today

Gen. Anupong Paochinda (อนุพงษ์ เผ่าจินดา) did not conduct an open house event for subordinate officers to congratulate him on his appointment as the new Army Commander in Chief.

Following Royal endorsement of Deputy Army Commander in Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda's appointment to the position of Army Commander in Chief in place of Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin who will be retiring on September 30, a large number of reporters were present at Gen. Anupong's residence within the 1st Infantry Regiment (King's Guard) command. Gen. Anupong did not conduct an open house event for subordinate officers or members of the public to congratulate him on his promotion and was observed to depart from his resident earlier today.

Meanwhile the Council for National Security will be reporting on the end of its 1 year term of duty this evening. A banquet for Council for National Security members and advisors will also be conducted with the possibility that Gen. Anupong will attend and comment on his appointment as the new Army Commander in Chief.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 September 2007

[cclub75]

I don’t know why yet but I am getting a bit of an uneasy feeling about this.

Could you explain why ?

Would you have prefered Saprang ?

[robint]

how can you explain anything sitting in an armchair

[John K]

I don’t know why yet but I am getting a bit of an uneasy feeling about this.

Could you explain why ?

Would you have prefered Saprang ?

I would have to say simply because I have not seen how he would react to a situation. Does he have knee jerk reactions or think things out like Sonthi? What were his responsibilities prior to the coup, and so on. To be given this much power without knowing his track record I guess I would have to say.

[scousemouse]

General Saprang Kalayanamitr won't like this at all. He's an extremely ambitious fellow.

Agree with you on this one bulmercke.

Saprang , aswell has shouting his mouth off on how he "helped out" , also promised some of his mates the top jobs .

Now he can't deliver on those promises what is his next move .

[hammered]

It seems some analysts expect Gen. Anupong to unite what they see as a divided military. It will be interesting to see Gen. Anupongs first real appointments which we pobably wont see until the mid year reshuffle next April or the full one next year in September. Which of his old classmates from class ten come back in from the cold will be intereting. At least a third of them had and probably still retain very direct links to Thaksin although Gen Anupong was seen as the leader of the anti-T grouping in class ten well before the coup.

Like all thing sin Thai politics nothing happens in isolation, and the selection of Gen Anupong probably will also be linked to keeping aboard or bringing in more people in politcal alliances. The non-selection of Gen. Saprang may upset some although not all elements of the PAD, but they are hardly likely to suddenly ally with Thaksin and so are probably taken for granted. More interestingly is the risk in not choosing Gen. Saprang, and therefore denying him the opportunity to further the careers of his old third army comrades, that the ability to influence what happens in the northern region electorally will diminish. Rather surprisingly the yes vote was able to win up North including by big margins in a few surprising provinces. The role of Gen. Saprang and his colleagues in this should not be underestimated. By chosing Gen. Anupong there must at least be as big a politcal trade off elsewhere or some other side deal has been done to keep Gen. Saprang on side. Interesting to see Suthep talking of briniging in Gen. Saprang. He is not the usual kind of Demo, but the lure of his power up North must remain strong. It also wasnt too long ago when the Dems actaully had the most MPs in the Northern region and maybe they sense a chance to at least do well up there with a bit of help.

[midasthailand]

All very interesting but I would like to know about the rest of the reshuffle, anyone know where I can lay my hands on the full list? I'd particularly like to know about General Songkitti and Special Colonel Charoenporn both of whom served with me in East Timor in 99/00.

[Jai Dee]

Federation of Three southern border teachers affirms new Army Chief must be sincere in solving southern flame

Federation of three southern border province teachers member Boonsom Tongsripai (บุญสม ทองศรีพราย) welcomed the appointment of newly appointed Army Chief General Anupong Paojinda (อนุพงษ์ เผ่าจินดา) upon hearing that the latter is skilled in negotiation and in matters of security.

The federation is confident that General Anupong will be able to provide more security measures to the three southern border provinces. They stated as they had strong agreements with the former Army Chief they would like General Anupong to continue the agreements. The federation said that if all sides worked together it would benefit all related groups especially government workers and teachers who are trying to provide education to youths.

Mr. Boonsom commented personally that he believed in the new Army Chief but suggested some strategic changes to reduce unrest. He also stressed sincerity and commitment to solving the problems of the three border provinces.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 October 2007