THE ASEAN DAILY

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Bangkok SAO collapse: One body and remains of seven unearthed

    April 30, 2025

    Japan and Philippines forge ‘golden age’ of ties with strategic, humanitarian, and economic agreements

    April 30, 2025

    Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses construction safety after SAO collapse

    April 1, 2025
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Breaking News :
    • Bangkok SAO collapse: One body and remains of seven unearthed
    • Japan and Philippines forge ‘golden age’ of ties with strategic, humanitarian, and economic agreements
    • Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses construction safety after SAO collapse
    • Petronas gas pipeline explosion sparks massive blaze in Selangor
    • Kim Soo-hyun breaks silence on Kim Sae-ron allegations, denies dating her as a minor
    • Antipolo road rage turns deadly: Three shot in violent traffic dispute
    • Baguio mayor Magalong alleges election fund misuse in 2025 budget, faces death threats
    • ASEAN mobilises aid as Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 694
    Facebook Twitter Instagram TikTok
    THE ASEAN DAILYTHE ASEAN DAILY
    • NEWS
      1. BREAKING NEWS
      2. WORLD
      3. SINGAPORE
      4. BANGKOK
      5. MANILA
      6. JAKARTA
      7. KUALA LUMPUR
      8. HANOI
      9. View All

      Bangkok SAO collapse: One body and remains of seven unearthed

      April 30, 2025

      Japan and Philippines forge ‘golden age’ of ties with strategic, humanitarian, and economic agreements

      April 30, 2025

      Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses construction safety after SAO collapse

      April 1, 2025

      Petronas gas pipeline explosion sparks massive blaze in Selangor

      April 1, 2025

      Myanmar earthquake claims 694 lives as Mandalay faces devastation

      March 29, 2025

      China deploys H-6 bombers near Scarborough shoal amid US-Philippines talks

      March 28, 2025

      Devastating earthquake hits central Myanmar, shakes Bangkok with collapsing buildings

      March 28, 2025

      Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing poised for rare international appearance at BIMSTEC summit

      March 28, 2025

      Singapore hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng’s guilty plea delayed amid medical review

      March 26, 2025

      Lev Panfilov convicted of rape in landmark Singapore ruling

      March 22, 2025

      Tamil radio host Gunalan Morgan faces legal charges for sexual misconduct and voyeurism

      March 21, 2025

      Scoot expands routes and fleet in 2025 amid Southeast Asia growth push

      March 11, 2025

      Bangkok SAO collapse: One body and remains of seven unearthed

      April 30, 2025

      Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses construction safety after SAO collapse

      April 1, 2025

      Bangkok earthquake triggers deadly building collapse, dozens feared trapped

      March 28, 2025

      Sky bridge detaches at luxury park origin Thonglor complex, urgent inspections underway

      March 28, 2025

      Japan and Philippines forge ‘golden age’ of ties with strategic, humanitarian, and economic agreements

      April 30, 2025

      Antipolo road rage turns deadly: Three shot in violent traffic dispute

      March 31, 2025

      Baguio mayor Magalong alleges election fund misuse in 2025 budget, faces death threats

      March 29, 2025

      US defence secretary Pete Hegseth visits Manila, reinforcing military ties

      March 28, 2025

      Tempo journalists intimidated with gruesome threats amid government scrutiny

      March 23, 2025

      Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts, forcing flight cancellations and expanding danger zone

      March 22, 2025

      Australian tourist dies in Bali snorkelling tragedy as boat capsizes

      March 22, 2025

      Indonesian soldier arrested over fatal shooting of 3 police officers in cockfighting raid

      March 19, 2025

      Petronas gas pipeline explosion sparks massive blaze in Selangor

      April 1, 2025

      ASEAN mobilises aid as Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 694

      March 29, 2025

      AirAsia flight AK128 returns to KLIA2 after engine fire scare

      March 27, 2025

      Anwar rejects $10M ransom demand in MAHB cyberattack, vows tougher cybersecurity

      March 26, 2025

      Hanoi ranks among world’s most polluted cities as AQI hits 196

      February 27, 2025

      Knife-wielding man falls to death from gold shop balcony in Dak Lak

      January 25, 2025

      Family tragedy rocks quiet village in Hanoi as 4 found dead, one missing

      January 18, 2025

      Vietnam, Poland strengthen ties with new agreements and community initiatives

      January 17, 2025

      Bangkok SAO collapse: One body and remains of seven unearthed

      April 30, 2025

      Japan and Philippines forge ‘golden age’ of ties with strategic, humanitarian, and economic agreements

      April 30, 2025

      Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses construction safety after SAO collapse

      April 1, 2025

      Petronas gas pipeline explosion sparks massive blaze in Selangor

      April 1, 2025
    • OPINION

      Balancing free speech and fake news: The Philippines’ tightrope walk on disinformation laws

      March 26, 2025

      Duterte’s ICC arrest sparks asylum rumours as China stays silent

      March 26, 2025

      Myanmar Junta’s grip shrinks to one-fifth of nation as ASEAN pressure mounts

      March 24, 2025

      Former Philippine president apprehended: A legacy of controversy unveiled

      March 11, 2025

      Thailand’s deep South conflict: Two decades of violence, failed policies, and uncertain peace

      February 26, 2025
    • BUSINESS/ FINANCE

      Intel appoints new CEO amid industry challenges and leadership turmoil

      March 14, 2025

      Trump confirms TikTok sale talks with multiple buyers amid US ban threat

      March 11, 2025

      Warren Buffett slams Trump’s new tariffs as “an act of war”

      March 3, 2025

      Hong Kong faces deepest budget deficit in 30 years amid economic struggles

      February 23, 2025

      Nissan reportedly poised to abandon merger talks with Honda amid strategic disagreements

      February 5, 2025
    • ENTERTAINMENT/ LIFESTYLE
      1. VIRAL NEWS
      2. View All

      Ceiling collapse at Johor Bahru’s KSL city mall sparks safety concerns

      March 10, 2025

      Batik Air flight faces mid-air scare as burning power bank triggers smoke alarm

      March 2, 2025

      Elderly woman in Taiwan kept daughter’s body at home for 6 years

      February 28, 2025

      Village dog uncovers 14,000 meth pills in Thailand’s Buri Ram

      February 26, 2025

      Kim Soo-hyun breaks silence on Kim Sae-ron allegations, denies dating her as a minor

      March 31, 2025

      Lady Gaga to rock Singapore with exclusive four-night concert at national stadium

      March 10, 2025

      Ceiling collapse at Johor Bahru’s KSL city mall sparks safety concerns

      March 10, 2025

      Batik Air flight faces mid-air scare as burning power bank triggers smoke alarm

      March 2, 2025
    • SPORTS

      Filipino sensation Alex Eala falls to Pegula in historic Miami open semifinal

      March 28, 2025

      Philippine tennis star Alexandra Eala stuns world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in Miami open shock

      March 27, 2025

      Carlos and Eldrew Yulo chase olympic dreams amidst ongoing family rift

      February 3, 2025

      Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting withdraws from boxing finals amid gender eligibility controversy

      November 27, 2024

      Kunlavut Vitidsarn wins Korea masters 2024, defeats Wang Zheng Xing in straight games

      November 11, 2024
    • TECHNOLOGY
      1. PHONES
      2. GADGETS
      3. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
      4. View All

      Huawei’s Mate XT smartphone draws 3 million pre-orders ahead of iPhone 16 launch

      September 10, 2024

      Apple unveils AI-powered iPhone 16, promising a new era of smart technology

      September 10, 2024

      leaked iPhone 16 pro colour options offer tantalizing glimpse of Apple’s next-gen flagship

      August 2, 2024

      Sony unveils PlayStation 5 Pro: Launch set for 7 November

      September 11, 2024

      Apple unveils latest iPad lineup and accessories at “let loose” event

      May 8, 2024

      Apple Unveils First-Ever Mixed Reality Headset, Taking On Meta In Expanding Market

      June 6, 2023

      Israeli Startup Sightful Unveils Screenless Laptop PC Concept With Augmented Reality Glasses

      May 26, 2023

      DBS bank to trim 4,000 roles as AI takes over human tasks

      February 25, 2025

      DeepSeek bypasses NVIDIA CUDA, achieves tenfold AI efficiency boost

      February 3, 2025

      OpenAI restructures as public benefit corporation to attract major investments

      December 27, 2024

      OpenAI defends for-profit transition against Elon Musk’s legal challenge

      December 14, 2024

      DBS bank to trim 4,000 roles as AI takes over human tasks

      February 25, 2025

      New ‘Astaroth’ phishing kit bypasses 2FA, poses major cybersecurity threat

      February 22, 2025

      DeepSeek bypasses NVIDIA CUDA, achieves tenfold AI efficiency boost

      February 3, 2025

      Meta dismantles fact-checking programme in major shift towards community moderation

      January 8, 2025
    • CRYPTO/ NFT

      Donald Trump Jr. champions crypto as key to U.S. economic dominance at Ondo summit

      February 7, 2025

      Solana’s stablecoin surge hits $10.5B amid Trump-themed memecoin frenzy

      January 25, 2025

      Trump signs executive order to boost Crypto, rejects central bank digital currency

      January 24, 2025

      Malaysia to forge cryptocurrency and blockchain policies after UAE talks

      January 15, 2025

      Bitcoin breaks $100,000 mark amid Trump’s pro-crypto agenda

      December 5, 2024
    THE ASEAN DAILY
    Home » Thailand’s old rivals reignite power struggle over military promotions
    BANGKOK BREAKING NEWS NEWS 5 Mins Read

    Thailand’s old rivals reignite power struggle over military promotions

    June 21, 2024By The ASEAN Daily
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email Telegram
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit Telegram WhatsApp

     

    21-6-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s long-standing political rivals are once again engaged in a power struggle, this time over the impending military promotions scheduled for July. The battle lines are drawn between the royalist-military faction and the Pheu Thai party, founded by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

    The outcome of this tussle could determine whether one side gains influence over the military, a crucial factor in governing a country that has experienced 19 coups or attempted coups since 1932.

    The royalist-military faction, consisting mainly of senior military figures and palace loyalists, is determined to retain control over the military’s annual promotions, according to military and intelligence sources. They believe that accomplishing this will help them maintain a degree of authority, even after last year’s general elections ushered in a civilian-led government after nearly a decade of two pro-royalist, military-dominated regimes.

    “The conservative old guard is still in control of the defense sector and will flex its muscle to remain on top,” said a senior military figure anonymously. “The royalist-military faction knows they are more powerful.”

    The clash over naming new commanders comes as the camps are already at odds on security-related matters.

    The other side, the civilian-led Pheu Thai party, which heads the 10-month-old coalition government, has attempted to assert its authority over the defense establishment with mixed success. During an April cabinet reshuffle, Pheu Thai prevented a senior general from the royalist-military camp from being named deputy minister of defense. However, in May, Pheu Thai acquiesced to the navy’s pressure to endorse a deal for a controversial Chinese-made submarine despite concerns over its new engine’s perceived poor quality.

    Thaksin Shinawatra, Pheu Thai’s de facto leader, understands the importance of maintaining influence within the military after his return from 15 years of self-imposed exile last August. According to senior Pheu Thai sources, he has begun to “weigh in on defense-related issues.”

    “He is still the most influential figure in the country,” a Thaksin confidant told Nikkei, “and if he wants to change the direction of the country, he knows he needs to deal with the defense forces.”

    However, seasoned military analysts believe that Pheu Thai’s hand has been weakened by Thaksin’s inability 10 months ago to appoint a trusted senior military ally as the deputy prime minister for security affairs, a position often held by a retired general who coordinates relations between the prime minister’s office and the armed forces.

    The government’s latest pick for the position, Phumtham Wechayachai, a senior Pheu Thai politician and commerce minister, has proven counterproductive. According to Paul Chambers, an expert on Thai national security at Naresuan University, “the military leadership despises him.”

    This tension has even surfaced over the government’s efforts to shape a Myanmar policy in response to the worsening civil war in its northwestern neighbor. The army has signaled that it has its own views, which differ from the plans of the Pheu Thai-led administration.

    The hostility between the royalist-military faction and Thaksin, or more broadly Pheu Thai, is now being discussed among influential circles in Bangkok. On the agenda is the collapse of a so-called “secret deal” that was reportedly struck on a Malaysian resort island in May 2023, according to political insiders and Bangkok-based diplomatic sources familiar with the details.

    Thaksin, then living in exile in Dubai, was one of four people who participated in those talks, meant to pave the way for his return home. The agreement was for his Pheu Thai party to support the incumbent pro-military parties in forming a civilian government after the elections later that month. In return, the then 73-year-old tycoon agreed to retire from politics.

    According to multiple sources, the other three participants were a business tycoon, a senior military figure, and a staunch champion of the royalist-military camp. Since his return, Thaksin has barely concealed his political interventions on multiple fronts, reportedly angering members of the royalist-military faction who had initially backed the secret deal.

    “He was expected ‘to stay at home’ as part of the deal,” Gen. Paradorn Pattanathabutr, a former secretary-general of the National Security Council, told Nikkei. “But he didn’t, and so the deal has been broken.”

    With the deal collapsing and other political factions on the rise, Paradorn forecasts a climate of uncertainty. “The situation is hard to predict,” he said. “No one knows what’s next.”

    Even though the Supreme Court granted Thaksin bail on Tuesday on lese majeste charges, the indictment can be seen as a warning for him to stop trespassing into politics, behind the scenes or otherwise.

    As matters stand, with a political vacuum taking shape, whispers of another coup are on the rise, according to well-placed political sources and Bangkok-based diplomats.

    “It emerged after the April cabinet reshuffle,” a senior military source said, “and the coup rumor has been heard within the military and outside.”

    Pheu Thai leaders are on guard, mindful of the country’s history of 19 coup attempts since 1932, with 13 successful, including the ones that deposed Thaksin in 2006 and his sister’s caretaker government in 2014.

    In April, Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang, a civilian with no military background, took the groundbreaking step of announcing that the Pheu Thai government would draft a new law to preempt coups, authorizing the prime minister to suspend any serving military officer reported to be plotting a putsch. However, this effort has been met with skepticism from military figures, with one retired general dismissing it as “useless bullshit.”

    The ASEAN Daily

    The Asean Daily is the leading online news platform providing in-depth coverage and analysis of the latest developments across Southeast Asia.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Previous ArticleSingapore’s big three banks double down on regional expansion drive
    Next Article Johor activates coastal patrols in response to Singapore oil spill impact

    Related Posts

    BANGKOK BREAKING NEWS NEWS

    Bangkok SAO collapse: One body and remains of seven unearthed

    April 30, 2025
    BREAKING NEWS MANILA NEWS

    Japan and Philippines forge ‘golden age’ of ties with strategic, humanitarian, and economic agreements

    April 30, 2025
    BANGKOK BREAKING NEWS NEWS

    Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses construction safety after SAO collapse

    April 1, 2025
    Must READ
    VIRAL NEWS
    3 Mins Read

    Rising Taiwanese AV Star Han Tang Talks Candidly About Her Journey In The Adult Industry

    June 9, 2023By The ASEAN Daily

    10-6-2023 (TAIPEI) Taiwanese AV actress Han Tang, who is just 24 years old, has…

    Bali authorities permanently close controversial ‘Russian village’ in Ubud

    January 21, 2025

    Cathryn Li Engages In Heated Exchange With Comedian Chrissie Mayr Over Jocelyn Chia’s Joke

    June 13, 2023

    Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48 during family holiday in Japan

    February 3, 2025
    Fresh News

    Bangkok SAO collapse: One body and remains of seven unearthed

    April 30, 2025

    Japan and Philippines forge ‘golden age’ of ties with strategic, humanitarian, and economic agreements

    April 30, 2025

    Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses construction safety after SAO collapse

    April 1, 2025

    Petronas gas pipeline explosion sparks massive blaze in Selangor

    April 1, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Facebook Twitter Instagram

    News

    • ASEAN
    • BUSINESS/ FINANCE
    • ENTERTAINMENT/ LIFESTYLE
    • SPORTS
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • CRYPTO/ NFT

    ABOUT US

    • Information
    • Editorial Team
    • Contact Info
    • Editorial Standards
    © 2025 THE ASEAN DAILY.
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.