Pre-Cadet Class 10 officers, seen as allies of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, were given a second chance yesterday to rehabilitate themselves in lieu of facing an outright purge following last week's military takeover.

The Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), showing leniency for strayed officers to rejoin the ranks, released the royal command on the annual military reshuffle in which Thaksin's military cronies were duly promoted but delegated to lesser positions. The new line-up for 612 senior military officers takes effect tomorrow.

General Winai Phattiyakul, a top aide to CDR leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, has been rewarded with the position of permanent secretary at the Defence Ministry.

Winai will concurrently hold his current position of CDR secretary-general. Before the coup, the previous government wanted to move him from the position of secretary-general of the National Security Council to an inactive post.

General Lertrat Ratanavanich, seen as close to the previous government, is being promoted to the ceremonial post of defence inspector-general. Under the deposed leadership, he was tipped to be elevated from the position of joint chief of staff to the senior-most defence

post.

Now, Sonthi's fellow officer from Pre-Cadet Class 6, General Boonsarng Niampradit, will become supreme commander.

Another of Sonthi's classmates, Lt-General Saprang Kalayanamitr will be elevated from the position of commander of the Third Army Region to become a full general as Sonthi's assistant. Saprang played a decisive role in the coup.

Two top officers from Pre-Cadet Class 10, General Pornchai Kranlert and Lt-General Anupong Paochinda, will see a reversal of fortune.

Under the Thaksin regime, Pornchai was billed as the leading contender to carry the Army's torch after Sonthi's retirement next year. Now he will be dislodged from the position of assistant Army commander-in-chief and become deputy joint chief of staff.

In contrast, Anupong will be elevated from the position of commander of the First Army Region to a full general, replacing Pornchai and becoming a contender to succeed Sonthi.

Other key officers from Pre-Cadet Class 10 will be promoted a rank and take on ceremonial assignments instead of command positions.

Among them is Maj-General Prin Suwannathat, who will relinquish his command of the First Infantry Division to work as an expert at the Defence Ministry.

Also assigned to the ministry are Lt-General Jirasit Kesakomol, commander of the First Army Corps; Maj-General Ruangsak Thongdee, commander of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division; and Maj-General Sanit Phrommas, commander of the Second Cavalry Division. Maj-General Manas Paorik, deputy commander of the Third Army Region, will be promoted a rank and take up an inactive post at Army headquarters.

Meanwhile, His Majesty the King has given his approval to the Royal Thai Police's plan to reappoint 34 senior police officers. In the latest reshuffle, senior-ranking police officers close to Thaksin were transferred to less powerful positions.

For example, assistant police commissioner-general Lt-Gen Wongkot Maneerin, Thaksin's classmate from Police Academy Class 26, was assigned to an advisory post at police headquarters. Another classmate of Thaksin, Provincial Police Bureau 4 Commissioner Lt-Gen Sataporn Duangkaew, was moved to serve as heasd of the Police Education Bureau.

An informed source yesterday revealed that the Secretariat of the Cabinet was now preparing to move four police officers close to Thaksin out of the Royal Thai Police to serve as advisors under its wing. The source said they included Maj-General Peeraphan Premputi and General Priewpan Damapongse.