The removal of Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa from his role as deputy prime minister in charge of national security will not affect operations against insurgents in the deep South, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha says.
Gen Prayuth said yesterday that he would welcome "anybody", including Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, taking over if it could help bring an end to the southern violence.
Adequate mechanisms are already in place to fight militants, he added.
Gen Yutthasak, who oversaw efforts to end the insurgency, was transferred in the latest cabinet reshuffle. His removal has raised questions of who will direct government policies, including the establishment of a new command centre set up to help solve the southern insurgency.
However, Gen Prayuth said he is not concerned.
Among the deputy prime ministers in office after the reshuffle, only Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has a background in security affairs _ but observers say Mr Chalerm is not trusted by commanders of the armed forces.
"I always tell my subordinates that we can't choose a commander but can choose to do what is considered right," Gen Prayuth said.
Asked whether Ms Yingluck can oversee the southern problem, Gen Prayuth said anybody can work within the current structure.
"The security issues are not too difficult because I can give help," he said. "We just want people who can work heart to heart with us."
Gen Prayuth stressed that military officers must follow orders and carry out their duties to the best of their abilities, rather than emphasise personal loyalties to bosses.
The government has two major agencies dealing with the southern unrest _ the Internal Security Operations Command, which combats separatist groups and the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, which is responsible for social and economic development in Muslim-majority provinces plagued with daily violence.
Gen Prayuth admitted the agencies have hit some snags, but insisted they are performing well.
"We're getting better and better," he said.
Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), said Ms Yingluck will be in charge of security issues as she is the president of the NSC.
He spoke after a NSC meeting chaired by Ms Yingluck yesterday.
Among the topics discussed was who to name as the new president of the southern command centre.
It was decided at the meeting that Ms Yingluck will temporarily serve as NSC president in place of Gen Yutthasak.
The premier yesterday told Lt Gen Paradorn to discuss with military agencies about who should lead the command centre and how the NSC can help government agencies work to solve the southern unrest.
The command centre's main jobs include gathering intelligence reports in the deep South from state agencies.
Lt Gen Paradorn is discussing the issue with army chief of staff Lt Gen Udomdet Seetabut, who is also secretary of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc).
"I think a relevant minister must be appointed to the centre.
"The new president could be Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat," Lt Gen Paradorn said.
Isoc is tightening security and preparing to escort teachers to the first day of school on Nov 1 in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla.