Yingluck bows to army demands

Yingluck bows to army demands

Analysis: Apirat's new role in military reshuffle has red shirts raising fears of a coup

The mid-year military reshuffle list of 203 generals which will take effect next month has been settled in line with the wishes of armed forces top brass, including the army chief, whose right-hand man will return to control forces in Bangkok.

Troops demonstrate their combat readiness in front of a signboard welcoming caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the start of her visit to the Royal Thai Army headquarters in Phra Nakhon district in August 2013. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The reshuffle was concluded at the Royal Thai Air Force headquarters in Don Muang district on Tuesday and Friday.

Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the supreme commander, armed forces chiefs and the permanent secretary for defence agree with the list of the 203 generals, as proposed by the armed forces chiefs.

The list was sent to the Election Commission for consideration, as the government is working in a caretaker role.

The Ministry of Defence expects to receive the list back from the commission in about a week so the caretaker prime minister can forward it to His Majesty the King for final approval.

The reshuffle is due to take effect on April 1.

In general, the reshuffle meets the desires of armed forces chiefs, including the addition of new positions that increase the number of deputy supreme commanders and deputy chiefs of staff of the army from three to four.

Ms Yingluck did not intervene in the reshuffle. In fact, she lent her support to the new positions, even for the promotion of officers who had taken part in 2010 crackdowns on red-shirt demonstrators, who back her government.

Included in the reshuffle are Lt Gen Walit Rojanaphakdee, commander of the 1st Corps, who will become commander of the 4th Army, which supervises the South.

Also, Lt Gen Kampanart Rooddit, assistant army chief of staff for warfare, will be promoted to succeed Lt Gen Walit as the 1st Corps commander.

The reshuffle will also see the return of Maj Gen Apirat Kongsompong, commander of the 15th Military Circle in Phetchaburi province, as the commander of the 1st Division, King’s Guards, which commands 56 companies of soldiers in Bangkok.

These positions indicate the relations between army commander-in-chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck are positive.

In the present political situation, Ms Yingluck really needs military support.

Backing what Gen Prayuth wants is tantamount to securing his support, especially regarding the positions of the three mentioned officers who her red-shirt supporters do not approve of.

Gen Prayuth told Ms Yingluck that in 2010, commanders had to follow the orders of the then-army chief. It would be unfair to block their career advancement now because of what they did in the past.

Some observers wonder if Gen Prayuth served Ms Yingluck and her government well only to wait for her approval for the mid-year military reshuffle.

Gen Prayuth agreed with Ms Yingluck’s request to soften the looks of 176 Army soldiers’ bunkers at communities, tourist destinations and business districts in Bangkok.

Ms Yingluck said the bunkers created an image of civil war in Bangkok and the army chief had subordinates put ornamental plants and flowers at the bunkers.

Protesters strongly criticised Gen Prayuth for following Ms Yingluck’s order.

An army source said soldiers at the bunkers received the order that they remove colourful flower pots and maintain only ornamental plants at the bunkers.

The removal of flower pots was ordered to be gradual so the change would not be noticeable.

In the meantime, Gen Prayuth is taking legal action against red-shirt demonstrators who are seen as advocating separatism.

These include Wuthipong Kachathamkhun, also known as "Ko Tee", a key red-shirt leader in Pathum Thani province.

Legal action was also ordered to be taken against Mr Wuthipong for alleged lese majeste offences stemming from comments made in his speeches on stages and in radio programmes which were seen as offensive to the royal institution.

The actions cause red-shirt demonstration leaders to suspect that after the military reshuffle, Gen Prayuth will not have to be considerate towards Ms Yingluck.

The return of Maj Gen Apirat as the commander of the 1st Division, King’s Guards, makes red-shirt leaders wonder if Gen Prayuth plans a coup because he has placed his right-hand man in this crucial position.

The transfer will take place in mid-year.

Normally any change to such a key position would happen in October and Maj Gen Wara Boonyasit, present commander of the 1st Division, King’s Guards, has been in the position for only one year and a half.

Traditionally he should remain in the position for two years, or until this September.

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