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Thai military reshuffle endorsed by King

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-31 18:56

BANGKOK  -- Thai King has endorsed the annual military reshuffle involving 556 positions on Sunday, according to local media.

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The latest reshuffle has seen General Songkitti Chakkabat, the chief-of-staff of the Supreme Command, succeed General Boonsang Niampradit as the Supreme Commander, while General Apichart Penkitti be promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary of Defence Ministry, the Bangkok Post newspaper website reported.

General Jiradet Kotcharat, the Assistant Army Commander, will become the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. The First Army Region Commander, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, will become Army Chief of Staff, while Major General Kanit Sapitak will take over Prayuth's top post in the First Army, the website said.

Admiral Kamthorn Phumpirun will become the commander of the Royal Thai Navy, taking place Admiral Satirapan Keyanon, and Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong, formerly the air chief of staff, will succeed ACM Chalit Phukpasuk as the Royal Thai Air Force chief.

Both General Boonsang and ACM Chalit will retire at the end of September, 2008.