"The race for the top army job intensified yesterday with assistant army chief Saprang Kalayanamitr indicating he would resign from the military if he was not made next commander-in-chief. With outgoing army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin due to retire from the military at the end of next month, the succession contest remains wide open.
Gen Saprang and Anupong Paochinda, also an assistant army chief, are the two favourites for the powerful post. . . Another strong candidate is chief-of-staff Montri Sangkhasap. . .
A source close to Gen Saprang said if the general left the army he was likely to enter politics. This was something he had always planned to do after retirement. . .
An army source said if Gen Saprang misses out on the top job, he could be appointed deputy supreme commander or defence permanent secretary on condition that the present permanent secretary, Winai Phattiyakul, decided to leave the army and enter politics. It has been widely speculated that Gen Winai will enter politics if Gen Sonthi decides to lead a political party after retirement. "
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Aug2007_news10.php
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Generals jockey for power
Started by Gene, Aug 17 2007 10:18 AM
1 reply to this topic
#2
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Posted 17 August 2007 - 12:17 PM
QUOTE
Whenever soldiers get involved in politics, it seems that the nation's problems begin to escalate and become worse. Military officers, accordingly, must step back from politics. With that firm and clear stance, I assure everyone that there definitely won't be a coup.
That's what General Sonthi said on May 18, 2006, scarcely 120 days before he led the coup to oust Thaksin. It suggests that what these Thai generals say has very little meaning in predicting their actions. They are a de facto branch of government that sets its own rules, notwithstanding what the constitution of the month may say.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonthi_Boonyaratglin
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