Thailand’s coup leader and newly appointed Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha on Sunday received royal endorsement for a Cabinet stacked with soldiers, as the military extended its reach into the kingdom’s politics.
Nearly a third of the 32-strong Cabinet are senior military officers.Among them are Prayut’s close allies and key players in the recent years of political turbulence, including generals involved in the bloody 2010 crackdown on “Red Shirt” activists.Former and serving generals will head the defence, justice, foreign affairs and commerce ministries, while an air marshal will take the top post at the transport department.