Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm.
Kamthon Pumhiran denies he is in the running to become defense minister.
Patcharapol Panrak
Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Kamthon
Pumhiran denied he is in the running to become defense minister in
Thailand’s new Pheu Thai Party-led government.
In an interview in Sattahip July 12, the admiral said
supposition he was asked to take a cabinet post was just a rumor and
that he has never talked to anyone about the job.
Kamthon’s name was thrown into the hat of possible
Defense Ministry candidates after he visited Brunei July 5-7 to attend
the 50th anniversary celebration for that country’s Navy.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been
rumored to be in Brunei. Kamthon said he was only in Brunei for the
anniversary celebration and denied meeting Thaksin. The admiral, who has
served in the military for 40 years, said he is looking forward only to
retirement and spending more time with his family.
While he refused to say whether he would take the job
if asked and did not offer any opinion on possible other defense
minister candidates, Kamthon did say he believes whoever takes over the
Defense Ministry should “have strategic knowledge about the nation and
military and understand military development and have the trust of his
subordinates.”
Those comments echo the July 16 remarks from Gen.
Prayuth Chan-ocha. The commander in chief of all Thai military forces,
breaking a promise to not comment on the new government until the
cabinet is formed, told reporters that while the search for a new
defense minister “is not a topic for public discussion” he preferred a
military officer, not civilian, have the post.
Prayuth said the new defense minister “should be
known for high ethical standards and be held in high esteem by the armed
forces” and should be in a position to bring about an “amicable
atmosphere between the military and the government.”
