Outgoing Army commander-in-chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart and his successor Gen Apirat Kongsompong visited Pattani together on Monday morning to be briefed on the operations against insurgents in the deep South.

The admiral who chairs the National Legislative Assembly’s ad-hoc committee formed with the commendable aim of eliminating nepotism in the bureaucracy has commented that civil servants are under pressure to prioritise personal relationships over a merit-based system, and bow to political office-holders so as to maintain beneficial relationships. Yes, it’s these pesky politicians again!