Another 'Eastern tiger' rises to top of Army
Assistant Army chief Gen Thirachai Nakwanit has been appointed by a royal command as the next Army commander-in-chief.
Thirachai's appointment was announced in the annual reshuffle list of 831 military officers. The list was publicized in the Royal Gazette on Friday.
The list also saw Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's brother, Assistant Army chief Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha, transferred out of the Army to become the next permanent secretary for Defence Ministry.
The reshuffle will take effect on October 1.
Preecha and Thirachai have been two strong candidates competing for the top post of the Army.
Thirachai is a military officer who has served in the Second Infantry Division, Royal Guards, known as the Burapha Phayuk. He is known to be favoured by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, the biggest Burapha Phayuk brother still in power.
Prime Minister Prayut himself and Interior Minister Anupong Paonchinda are also Burapha Phayuk generals. But Prayut's brother, Preecha, has grown up in his military career outside the Burapha Phayuk circle. He got promoted on his career ladder mostly in the Third Army Area.
The reshuffle list also saw Joint Chief of Staff Gen Sommai Kaodira prompoted to the post of the supreme commander.
Navy Chief-of-Staff ADM Na Areenij was promoted to become the Navy chief.