[Tlc] T-military

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Forwarded from Al Valentine.
Thanks,
justin

Subject: Thailand's Military Structure to Change--For the Better, Who Knows



http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=128802Analysis by Wassana Nanuam
The Royal Thai Armed Forces are about to go through an important restructure project, right at the top of their military chain of command.

    Wassana Nanuam reports on military affairs for the Bangkok Post.


The secret may well be out once this article is published - that a restructuring at the top of the military chain of command is imminent. But will the changes in the pipeline be substantive and are they worth the trouble?

The questions trace back to the high-level talks in the military over a planned restructuring which promises reform at the top of the command pyramid, in addition to the proposed renaming of the Office of Supreme Commander to the Office of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.


While the proposed adjustment is still sitting on the drawing board, a highly-placed source in the armed forces is most confident that the new structure will be introduced in time for the upcoming reshuffle season around October. The chain of command slated for modification is specific to the positions of the most prominent movers and shakers of the defence realm - the chiefs of the army, air force and navy as well as the supreme commander and his three deputies.


Key to the new structure is to have each of the armed forces' leaders concurrently holding the post of! deputy supreme commander.


The dual posts to be occupied by each of the forces' commanders will effectively mean a saving on three generals in the 'field marshal quota' who would otherwise be appointeddeputy supreme commanders.


Though the rank of field marshal no longer exists, the perks that came with that rank still do; as such, the 'quota' remains.


The central argument supporting the new changes is that the dual posts will forge closeness in terms of a shortened chain of command between the supreme commander and the armed forces' leaders.


As far as the easing of bureaucratic hurdles is concerned, the forces' leaders will no longer have to go through the deputies to reach the supreme commander.


The s! upreme commander, long dismissed as a tiger without claws, could in theory at least, rein inon the affairs of the military more closely, given fewer tiers of command between him and the forces' leaders.


Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niempradit has reportedly been in consultation with the forces' chiefs over the new structure and has instructed them to keep the issue, which has only been discussed a few times, in strictest confidence for fear of resistance within the military.


The planned revamp, although relevant only to the highest order of command, will inevitably chart anew course of destiny for the armed forces.


Arranging the new order may be easier over the next several months than later because the many armed forces' leaders will be retiring at the end of this fiscal calendar year in September.


The outgoing chiefs are Gen Boonsrang, navy commander-in-chief Sathirapan Keyanont and air force chief Chalit Phukpasuk.


They are among the nearly 20 high-ranking generals, including those in the field marshal quota, going into retirement.


Perhaps the changes will be more visible in the air force, where the air combat, air support and air training commands, established a decade ago, will be dissolved in the interests of a leaner and more efficient workforce.


The restructuring also necessitates downsizing the upper echelons of the command. The abolition of the three commands will leave three commander posts vacant and there will be three assistant air force commanders instead of one at present.


After all is said and! done, the air force will have 'six tigers,' a reference to the most powerful commanders, instead of seven at present.


Critics, however, have been suspicious of the plan to fine-tune the force, reckoning it was designed so the incumbent commanders could retire in the comfort that their choice of successors would be taking over from them.


High on the list of likely candidates to replace ACM Chalit is ACM Itthaporn Subhawong, the airforce chief-of-staff. Over in the navy, the favourite choice to succeed Adm Sathirapan could be Adm Kamthorn Phumhiran, chairman of the navy advisory council.


Both retiring commanders were in with the engineers of the 2006 coup who ran the now defunct Council for National Security.


The successors could provide the re! tiring chiefs with the peace of mind that the 'politics of proxies' with the old power clique playing puppet master would not rear its ugly head in the management of the armed forces in the future.


Speculation is rife that army chief Anupong Paojinda will be promoted to supreme commander. There structuring appears to have the supreme commander posting cut out for Gen Anupong, as it will be made mandatory that only one of the armed forces' leaders can aspire to the topmost post and Gen Anupong is the only chief in the armed forces who is not retiring at the end of September.


The new structure also re-introduces the abandoned tradition of 'dual posts' held by the top brass. It is not unreasonable to assume the current commanders-in-chief were counting on stable forces amid unstable politics and the practice of keeping two posts at the same time could give them that sec! urity.


Gen Anupong could, with the blessings of Adm Sathirapan and ACM Chalit, see the sign on his office door changed to 'Supreme Commander/Army Chief,' according to the source.


But the extremely volatile political situation over the next several months could determine the fate of the new structure. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who is a solid backer of Gen Anupong, may not be around long enough as head of government to realise the plan.


If Gen Anupong manages to retain the army chief post, the supreme commander seat would be up for grabs and it could well land in the lap of Gen Songkitti Chakkrabat, the army chief-of-staff.


So, the well-guarded secret is out and the merits of the restructuring and what it involves will no doubt provide much fodder for ! rumination.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu