Forces reshuffle set for PM’s approval

Apirat looks poised to clinch army top post

The annual military reshuffle is ready to be forwarded to Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha next week, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting with armed forces leaders at his residence, Gen Prawit said the military shake-up has been finalised pending submission to the premier.

The end of September will see the retirement of several top-ranking commanders.

They include army chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisad, defence permanent secretary Gen Theppong Thippayachan, Supreme Commander Gen Thanchaiyan Srisuwan, navy commander Adm Naris Prathumsuwan and air force commander ACM Johm Rungswang.

The meeting took place after 40 senior armed forces and police figures paid Gen Prawit a visit at his residence at the 1st Infantry Regiment in Bangkok yesterday to extend their best wishes ahead of his 74th birthday today.

Gen Prawit, also deputy prime minister, thanked the well-wishers for their hard work.

In the army, assistant army chief Apirat Kongsompong is poised to take over the army’s top post. Gen Apirat, a member of Class 20 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Afaps), has two years to serve before his mandatory retirement in 2020.

Gen Apirat is widely expected to take the helm, given his role in the 2014 coup in which he commanded the 1st Division, King’s Guard, a key unit in the putsch.

Deputy defence permanent secretary Gen Nat Intharacharoen is strongly tipped to succeed Gen Theppong as the defence permanent secretary while the Supreme Command’s chief-of-staff Gen Pornpipat Benyasri is likely to clinch the supreme commander post.

Gen Nat, whose mandatory retirement is in 2021, is said to have close affiliations with Gen Prawit. Gen Pornpipat has two years to serve until his retirement in 2020.

Navy deputy commander Adm Ruechai Ruddit is poised to succeed Adm Naris and he also has two years until his retirement in 2020. Air force assistant chief ACM Chaipruek Dissayasarin is expected to become the new commander.

However, it is reported that Gen Prawit asked ACM Johm about other possible candidates for the air force’s top job including assistant commander ACM Charnrit Plikanont and air force chief-of-staff ACM Wanchai Nutkasem.

ACM Johm stood firm on his nomination of ACM Chaipruek, it is reported.

The new commanders will play a prominent role in maintaining national security in the lead-up to the next general election, tentatively set for early next year.