Second Army Region commander Tharakorn Thamwinthorn is expected to retain his position in the upcoming annual military reshuffle as he was perceived to have performed well in keeping the red shirts and supporters of the Pheu Thai Party in check in the Northeast over the past year.
As a result, Lt Gen Tharakorn has reportedly gained the trust of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who wants him to be in charge of the Northeast when elections are held, possibly in February.
Lt Gen Tharakorn, also known as "Big Black", has risen through the ranks in the army barracks of the Northeast, particularly in Surin Province.
InquiryLines, published bi-weekly on Mondays is a Bangkok Post column to present in-depth details of a range of issues from politics and social interest to eye-catching everyday lives.
Lt Gen Tharakorn was a member of Class 18 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and Class 29 of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.
He was made commander of 23rd Infantry Regiment and the 6th Infantry Regiment, respectively, before being chosen to command the Suranari Task Force in the border area close to Preah Vihear temple.
He was subsequently promoted as the second army region commander in October last year.
Lt Gen Tharakorn is said to be close to Gen Prawit as his father was a subordinate of Gen Prawit at the Chakrabongse base in Prachin Buri.
"When I was with my father in the camp, I saw Gen Prawit. I can say that he has seen me since I was a kid," Lt Gen Tharakorn said.
He said he was aware that Gen Prawit takes care of his subordinates and that he applies the same approach to his command.
The Northeast is known to be a stronghold of the Pheu Thai Party, a staunch critic of the army, but he said people's attitude in the region has improved four years on from the coup.
"In the past, there was some movement or reaction (against the military), but as time has gone by, they have started to cooperate with the soldiers. They smile at army officers who visit their areas," he said.
The army has pressed ahead with the state-funded Thai Niyom Yangyuen (Sustainable Thainess) programme for the locals, resulting in this boost of cooperation.
"Being the military, we do not treat the Northeastern people on the basis of which group they belong to, their colour, or whether they like or dislike the soldiers. We will always believe that every person in the region is Thai and we will assist them in any way possible," said Lt Gen Tharakorn.
The government has also ushered in campaigns to address the problems of the Northeastern people, such as debts to loan sharks, which causes many locals to lose their vehicles and even farmland.
Lt Gen Tharakorn said that Gen Prawit has ordered army and police officers to assist in negotiations with informal creditors to resettle debts or else they would face legal trouble.
So far, officers have succeeded in returning land title deeds placed as collateral to more than 4,000 debtors, though the number is not very significant given that hundreds of thousands of people are stuck in the same spot.
Lt Gen Tharakorn countered criticism that the campaign was carried out to court support for the military regime, saying officers merely want to bring happiness to the locals.
"We will not leave anyone behind," Lt Gen Tharakorn said. "We do not think that anyone who dislikes soldiers would not be supported by us. We see everyone as Thais, and every Thai will be taken care of."
The military is also helping in tackling social and economic problems along with inequality.
Rumours have spread among politicians that key figures in the second army region are meeting politicians in order to woo them into the Phalang Pracharat Party, widely believed to be a military camp that would back Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to return as the premier after the elections.
The party is said to be supported by key figures in the National Council for Peace and Order.
Lt Gen Tharakorn, however, dismissed such rumours, saying when he visited the locals and politicians only to try and boost their understanding about the government's efforts to bring back peace and order.
"We have never told them that they must love soldiers or asked politicians to switch parties or draw them to our fold as has been reported," the second army region chief said.
He insisted politicians have their own reasons to switch parties, and it is not because of the military's efforts of persuasion.
Responding to the Gen Prayut-backed Sam Mitr group, which claimed the second army region commander had given them the green light to meet politicians, Lt Gen Tharakorn stressed the group had never been granted such permission.
However, he noted the group is not a political party and they meet often because they know each other.
Meanwhile, speaking about the red shirt supporters, he said they have cooperated with the military as they are confident that the election will happen next year.
"I only want to ask everyone to respect the laws, no matter what they do," Lt Gen Tharakorn said. Referring to the area close to Preah Vihear temple, he said military officers from Thailand and Cambodia remain in close contact.
Unit commanders of both countries have maintained communication channels to contact each other at all times in case of any problem at the border, he said, adding the general border committee also holds a meeting every three months.
"I believe that tourism cooperation in the Preah Vihear area will also take shape after the election takes place next year," Lt Gen Tharakorn said. He stressed the army would also work with neighbouring countries to prevent narcotics from being smuggled into Thailand.
Police officers, he said, have seized a huge haul of drugs brought into Thailand via the North and Northeast, and many more shipments are expected to pour into the country.
The local people have been invited to serve as the eyes and ears of the police, who will also deploy equipment to help locate the smugglers.