Army general appointed new NSC chief

Army general appointed new NSC chief

Gen Thawip Netniyom will move from the armed forces to lead the National Security Council next month.
Gen Thawip Netniyom will move from the armed forces to lead the National Security Council next month.

The cabinet on Tuesday appointed an army general, Thawip Netniyom, to succeed Anusit Kunakorn as the National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general when he retires at the end of this month.

Deputy government spokesman Maj Gen Weerachon Sukhonthapatipak said the cabinet approved a request from the Prime Minister's Office to transfer Gen Thawip from the Supreme Command to head the NSC.

He will succeed Mr Anusit, who will retire on Sept 30.

Gen Thawip was selected over deputy NSC chief Kanokthip Ratchatanant, the NSC's candidate.

Prime Minister Prayut Cha-o-cha said on Aug 25 that the selection of the new NSC chief would be decided to fit the "unusual" situation.

Gen Thawip was promoted to special adviser to the Defence Ministry in the armed forces reshuffle list published in the Royal Gazette on Saturday.

He will give up his new position at the Defence Ministry to take charge at the NSC, starting Oct 2.

Gen Thawip is the second general to take over the country's main security agency in recent years.

Then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra moved Lt Gen Paradon Pattanatabut from the Supreme Command to lead the NSC in 2012. He was shunted to an inactive post at the Prime Minister's Office by the National Council for Peace and Order last year.

Gen Prayut later returned the NSC position to Thawil Pliensri, who was Mr Anusit's predecessor.

The deputy government spokesman said the cabinet also promoted Cherdsak Santiworawut from deputy director to be chief of the National Intelligence Agency after Chatpong Charttrakhom retires at the end of this month.

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