Thai army head moves closer to full control

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 16

Thai army head moves closer to full control

From “The Economist,” London

The firm grip of General Arthit Kamlangek on political power in Thailand is about to be strengthened. Unless something extraordinary happens to prevent it, General Arthit will next month add the post of supreme commander of the armed forces to his present responsibilities as chief of staff.

The new job is one that has been held by many a Thai general who later became Prime Minister. General Arthit would, however, be the first in 20 years to hold the two posts at the same time. General Arthit wants to give the army a big role in politics. As a member of the Senate, the armycontrolled Upper House of Parliament, he tried last March to push through legislation that would have weakened the constitutional position of the civilian parties. When that failed, he forced the Prime Minister, General Prem Tinsulanond, to call an early election in April before a new election law could take effect. . th theory it is up to thffprime Minuter to confirm the new

supreme commander. General Prem’s authority did grow somewhat when the parties in the ruling coalition, the army’s sabres rattling in their ears, pleaded with him to remain in office after last April’s election. But General Arthit, his former protege, is backed by both the army and King Bhumibol, and there is little the Prime Minister could do (if he wanted) to block the new appointment. The post of supreme commander carries both prestige and real power, the incumbent signs procurement orders for the armed forces as a whole. General Arthit will become a very busy man. In addition to his other duties, he will be in charge of internal security and a special peacekeeping force that looks after Bangkok Opposition to General Arthit from within the armed forces, which arose partly because of his rapid additions of gold braid, is waning. There has been only muted public grumbling byanihtary men about his expectajppromotion, and the new commander

of the air force is an old classmate of his.

Much of the opposition had crystallised around the retiring supreme commander, General Saiyud, who strongly objected to General Arthit’s springtime manoeuvres over the constitution.

Even with the top post all but in his pocket, there is no sign that General Arthit is eager to reintroduce the constitutional amendments which would, among other things, have allowed a serving general to become Prime Minister. He has backed off partly because two of the four parties in the governing coalition voted against the amendments in the spring, and these two — the Social Action party and the Democrats — now control half the.seats in the Lower House of Parliament.

General Arthit seems willing to bide his time until the prime ministership comes his way in the normal course of events, or after a sudden collapse of the coalition.,. Copyright — “The Economist, London.