Military camaraderie will prevail: Prayuth
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Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday said he was confident that the military camaraderie would smoothen the ties between the armed forces and new Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat.
“Sukumpol was a pre-cadet upperclassman, hence he and I could talk in a brotherly manner and will not hurt one another,” he said.
Prayuth ruled out fear for a conflict over the mid-year military reshuffle which might trigger a military coup in April.
“Soldiers have one sole duty to heed the command of their superiors,” he said.
He was reacting to speculation that Sukumpol might exert his influence over the military rotations.
Commenting on the Cabinet reshuffle, he said the government had the mandate to name the defence minister without having to consult the armed forces.
He said the outgoing minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha told him that his promotion to the position of deputy prime minister was a change for the better.
“Yuthasak will oversee security affairs, including the Defence Ministry,” he said.
Sukumpol tried, meanwhile, to allay anxiety that his appointment might stir up tensions between the government and the military.
“I am not a hawk as seen by the media but a reasonable man,” he said.
He dismiss speculation that he would amend the Defence Minister Administration Act in regard to military appointments, saying he would not take a stand until he could thoroughly study relevant issues.
He said he would abide by existing rules in regard to the military line-up. Should his decision on military reshuffle tend to impact the government, he would consult the prime minister before implementation, he said.
He said as a retired air force officer, he should not have any trouble overseeing the military affairs.
He would not to live in the past, he said in reference to his military career derailed by the 2006 coup.
He insisted he had good ties with Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Suphawong, dismissing speculation he would mount a military purge.
