The reshuffle of 371 army personnel has caused those with affiliations to Justice Minister Gen Paiboon Koomchaya to lose control of all key combat units.
The move reflects new army chief Udomdej Sitabutr’s worries about a possible counter-coup and is being seen as a way to prevent it, an army source said.
The source said the changes are also being viewed as a way to reward some of the officers who played key roles during the political unrest and the May 22 coup, adding that the reshuffle is intended to consolidate the power of the new army chief.
New army commander Udomdej has approved the reshuffle, which affects colonels, most of whom are in charge of regiments and combat units, dubbed “coup units”.
Gaining the most attention are the changes of commanders at three of the army’s key combat units — the 1st Division (King’s Guard) based in Bangkok, the 2nd Infantry Division (Queen’s Guard) based in the eastern province of Prachin Buri and the 9th Infantry Division based in Kanchanaburi.
In the reshuffle, army personnel from a key faction named the Wongthewan (Divine Lineage), who controlled those combat units, have been replaced by members of another key faction known as the Burapha Phayak, or Tigers of the East, the name used by present and former soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division (Queen’s Guard).
Gen Paiboon, who came from the Wongthewan group, was previously an assistant army chief and had been in the running, along with Gen Udomdej who was then a deputy army chief, for the army’s top post.
Gen Paiboon was also one of the architects of the May 22 coup, the source said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was then army chief, eventually decided to pick Gen Udomdej, who he trusted most, as his successor.
Gen Prayut then transferred Gen Paiboon to the post of Deputy Supreme Commander at the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters.
Gen Prayut, Gen Udomdej, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, once served in the 21st Infantry Regiment in Chon Buri. They were also members of the Burapha Phayak group.
To prevent any problems, Gen Prayut appointed Gen Paiboon as a member of the National Council for Peace and Order and later as the Justice Minister in his government.
The source said Gen Prayut transferred Gen Paiboon to the post of Deputy Supreme Commander because Gen Prayut knew that Gen Paiboon had close ties with key figures of the Pheu Thai Party and also had close ties with associates of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
On Friday Gen Udomdej signed an order reshuffling a total of 371 army personnel and all soldiers with close ties to Gen Paiboon have been moved out of the army’s key combat units.
Some personnel have been promoted, although they will not control key combat units.
Col Songwit Noonphakdi, who has been commander of the 11th Infantry Regiment, King’s Guard, for three and a half years, has been promoted to deputy commander of the 1st Division.
Col Songwit led security operations for the safety of students after deadly confrontations with protesters at Ramkhamhaeng University last November. He also oversaw the response to clashes between anti-government protesters and a group of red shirts in the Laksi area on the eve of the Feb 2 election.
Col Suchart Prommai, the army chief-of-staff who is known as Gen Udomdej’s right-hand man, has been appointed to replace Col Songwit as commander of the 11th Infantry Regiment, another key combat unit.
The regiment is the unit where Gen Paiboon served as a young soldier and rose through the army’s ranks. He also has a house at the unit’s premises.
Another key change has taken place at the 31st Infantry Regiment in Lop Buri, which is home to the army’s high-calibre rapid deployment force unit.
Col Kanthachai Prachuab-aree, who had been the regiment’s commander for just one year, has been made chief-of-staff at the 13th Army Circle, also based in Lop Buri. A regiment commander usually remains in the post for about three years, the source said.
Col Pongsak Iamphaya, deputy commander of the 21st Infantry Regiment, is Col Kanthachai’s replacement. He has the trust of the new army chief, the source added.