Thaksin & Anupong

Thaksin's military academy clasmates show up to extend birthday greetings
31 July 2006
Thai News Service

More than 200 high-ranking military officers from Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School closed ranks behind caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on his 57th birthday on July 26, the Bangkok Post reports.

Mr Thaksin's classmates were led to Ban Phitsanulok, the prime minister's official residence, by Gen Songkitti Chakkrabat, the Supreme Command's deputy joint chief-of-staff, and Gen Pornchai Kranlert, the assistant army chief who heads the Class 10 alumni group.

''The prime minister thanked us for our encouragement. He has always cautioned us to be patient and strong about what is happening as our class is often under criticism and subjected to rumours. We have to keep calm,'' said air force chief-of-staff ACM Sukampol Suwanathat, leader of the air force branch of Class 10 alumni.

The turn-out followed a new wave of reports about divisions among the army officers from Class 10. Sources noted that the gathering was bigger than previous meetings.

Both First Army Region commander Lt-Gen Anupong Paochinda and Maj-Gen Prin Suwandhat, commander of the Bangkok-based First Division, were among the well-wishers. Lt-Gen Anupong, who is not known to favour Mr Thaksin, recently sidelined several field commanders loyal to Maj-Gen Prin, who is seen to be close to the prime minister.

ACM Sukampol said most Class 10 officers were unhappy with the reports of a split in their ranks and he denied that Maj-Gen Prin had been at odds with his boss, Lt-Gen Anupong, over the recent transfers. Moreover, the officers who were transferred did well.

''They were all promoted to the rank of colonel,'' ACM Sukampol said. Vice-Adm Pisit Klinfuang, spokesman for the Class 10 alumni, said Mr Thaksin looked happy and cheerful, not weary as he had appeared on television. ''He even said tongue-in-cheek that the situation would improve of its own accord because it was in the stars hovering over the country,'' Vice-Adm Pisit said.

Most Class 10 officers had marked the occasion every year since Mr Thaksin chaired the alumni group. Before he founded the Thai Rak Thai party, the classmates went to the Shinawatra building in the Ratchawat area, he said.

''This practice did not start when he became the prime minister. We admit he is a good man who loves his friends. That is his charm,'' said Vice-Adm Pisit.

Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranont said the reshuffle lists of high-ranking officers from the three armed forces were expected to reach him by the end of this month. They would be forwarded to caretaker Defence Minister Gen Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya by August.

Gen Ruengroj denied there was a deep rift in the armed forces over the military reshuffle, saying there was unity and brotherhood in the forces. He also dismissed as groundless, reports that Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, the army commander-in-chief, would be kicked upstairs to become supreme commander. Gen Ruengroj said his successor would come from the Supreme Command.