Thailand's top heavy military bureaucracy gets a shake-up to forestall second coup in one year

The question not asked by The Nation, as usual, is why a small country like Thailand with an outmoded and generally ridiculous army, total control over its borders, and little influence in international affairs would have hundreds if not thousands of 'Lieutenant Colonels'. Unreal.

Thai Army rotates 136 lieutenant colonels

The Army Friday released a list of rotations involving 136 lieutenant colonels assigned to battalion-level positions, seen by critics as an attemt to foil a second coup.

The list took effect since Tuesday and was endorsed by Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

Army insiders said Sonthi had ordered his two assistants, General Saprang Kalayanamitr and General Anupong Paochinda, to reassign battalion commanders.

Sonthi's instruction coincided with the military jittery caused by the warning of former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh over the weekend.

The new lineup included Lt Colonel Banyong Thongnuam as commander of the Second Battalion of the First Infantry Regiment.

Lt Colonel Surin Preeyanupap became commander of the First Battalion of the Second Infantry Regiment.

The Nation