The throne expends considerable effort currying loyalty and has long rewarded that loyalty. Over the years, it has been the pillars of the official loyalists who have been rewarded, from the military, judiciary and senior bureaucracy.
The Bangkok Post reports that King Vajiralongkorn has appointed retiring army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong and Corrections Department director-general Naras Savestanan as deputies of the Lord Chamberlain.
The Royal Household Bureau announced “the transfers of both men to the newly created positions” that will take effect from 30 September, when “[t]heir status will change to palace officials after they retire.”
The report notes that both “Gen Apirat and Pol Col Naras were from Class 20 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School…”.
Update: Khaosod reports: “Under their new positions, Apirat and Naras will report to Air Chief Marshal Sathitpong Sukwimol, who serves as the agency’s secretary-general.”
Political Prisoners in Thailand 
[…] wonder if there isn’t a connection between the palace appointments of army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong and Corrections Department director-general Naras Savestanan […]
[…] to the Privy Council and that former Corrections Department director-general Naras Savestanan was recently made a deputy Lord Chamberlain in the […]
[…] retired army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong has a new job with the king, certainly rewarding his “loyalty.” Yet, according to the Bangkok Post, he has entered […]