Who is he?
General Nipat Thonglek is the new permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Thailand. He was previously deputy defense permanent secretary from October 2012 to September 2013. Nipat has held various military posts, including director of policy and planning at the Royal Thai Army headquarters in 2001. He entered the ministry of defense in 2004 as a staff officer to the defense minister, and has quickly moved up the ranks. Nipat graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1978.
General Nipat Thonglek, Thailand’s new permanent secretary for defense. Source: Prachatai’s flickr photostream, used under creative commons license.
Why is he in the news?
General Nipat was promoted to permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defense at this year’s military reshuffle, effective October 1. He replaces General Thanongsak Apirakyothin, who retired at the end of September. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra strongly supported Nipat for his work in the past two years in response to the insurgency in southern Thailand and in negotiations with Cambodia on the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple. Despite initial concerns that Nipat does not have the seniority often required for this position, all military leaders reportedly came around to support Yingluck’s pick at the end of the reshuffle talks in August. This year’s reshuffle is the largest military shake-up in Thai history, involving 861 senior military officials.
What can we expect from him?
Nipat’s tenure is expected to run until 2016. Prime Minister Yingluck has already authorized Nipat to handpick staff officers for the defense minister and reassign personnel in the office of the defense permanent secretary. Along with supreme commander Gen. Thanasak Patimapragorn and commander-in-chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Nipat will be a key player in the Thai military’s plans to modernize its naval and air forces over the coming decade.
