Military reshuffle to be submitted in time for Oct 1

The panel's meeting started at 9am and finished 20 minutes later, Thanathip said.

The meeting of the panel was held after the Cabinet refused to approve a new advisory position at the Defence Ministry. Without this approval, Gen Khanit Saphithak will remain in his current position as the chief adviser for the Defence Ministry.

The advisory position is a special one created just for Khanit. Well-informed sources said the initial plan was to move Khanit to the position of deputy supreme commander. The ministry asked the Cabinet to retain the position of the chief adviser for the Defence Ministry, which would be filled by another military officer. Technically this meant that the Cabinet would have to approve a new advisory position after Khanit's transfer.

In anticipation of the Cabinet agreeing to create the position after Khanit's transfer, military leaders initially agreed to give the advisory position to Gen Phuchong Ratanawan of the National Defence Studies Institute, the sources said.

However, the Cabinet insisted that if Khanit were moved, the advisory position must be terminated.

As a result, Khanit will remain in his advisory position in order to maintain it, Thanathip said.

The spokesman said the reshuffle list would be submitted to the prime minister in time for the new fiscal year on October 1.