Coup via TV?
By The Nation
Published on October 17, 2008
Top brass heap pressure on PM through Channel 3 talks
If it was some kind of a coup, it was one that has never been staged before.
No machine guns and tanks were in sight when the military and police leaders arrived at TV Channel 3 late yesterday afternoon. When they left three hours later, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government was shaken to its core.
Army chief Anupong Paochinda led the historic commentary that was soft in tone but brutally harsh in substance. The top brass's unspoken message delivered at the news talk programme hosted by Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda was clear: Mr Prime Minister, you'd better go.
Anupong all but held the government accountable for the October 7 bloodshed, saying he was well aware of "orders" that the police had to follow. He also expressed regret for failing to warn that such orders could lead to violence.
"[Before the crowd dispersal] I told the police chief the Army wouldn't do anything," Anupong said when asked about his role on the tragic day. "It wasn't just about me. It was about the entire Arny. We had to stand by the people. We wouldn't do it even if we had been given the authority to do it."
Although he and the other top brass showed unwavering unity, they ruled out a new coup which they insisted would only mean the Armed Forces choose to take side in a conflict that divides Thailand. But what they said was enough to have Somchai's residence immediately crawl with reporters and senior People Power Party members.
"If the government ordered it [the use of drastic measures], it will have to take responsibility," Anupong said. "This is not meant to pressure the government, but someone has to show responsibility. No-one can stay on a pool of blood. No-one can."
Asked what he would do if he was prime minister in that situation, Anupong replied: "I would resign. As long as society can't accept the action, this issue is never going to end."
The military and police leaders did not say the government had lost their support, yet Anupong's firm declaration that the military had to stay in the middle severely undercut Prime Minister Somchai's authority and rendered his concurrent position as defence minister meaningless.
"This is obviously a collective demand for the prime minister to resign without having to stage a coup," said a source close to Somchai. "This gets us in a difficult situation."
The People's Alliance for Democracy, which had turned against Anupong for his "inaction" before, during and after the October 7 bloodbath, reacted cautiously. The Manager newspaper's website highlighted his virtual call for Somchai's resignation and discussion forums were a mix of renewed praises for Anupong and scepticism.
Anupong also strongly denied PAD's allegations that he now had vested interests with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who allegedly sheltered and sponsored the Army chief's daughter studying in England.
"My children were never involved with them. My daughter who has studied in England mostly kept to herself and didn't get involved with anyone," he said. "I've never received anyone's money."
Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jaggabatara called for a compromise to end the protracted political crisis and insisted that the military would never use force to interfere. Police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan would not specify who gave the order to disperse the PAD protesters, only saying everyone should wait for results of investigation.
Earlier in the day, Somchai, besiged with the political and economic crises as well as border tension with Cambodia, said he might step down once a new Constitution is in place through an independent drafting assembly. His immediate reaction to the unprecedented TV revolt was not avaible, though it now seems he may have to ponder leaving the post far sooner than that.
PM Somchai will face mandatory dismissal.
By The Nation
Published on October 17, 2008
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat committed serious malfeasance when he was the permanent secretary for the Justice Ministry in 1999, the National Counter Corruption Commission said yesterday.
Somchai would face mandatory dismissal under the anti-graft law of 1998 if the Justice Ministry's Civil Service Committee agrees with the NCCC after the commission forwards its report to the panel.
The dismissal would be made retroactive to the date of wrongdoing, but would not change Somchai's performance of his duties or his pay and benefits as a retired civil servant.
Somchai is entitled to appeal any disciplinary action to the ministry's committee and then to the Civil Service Commission, which has the final say in such matters. The commission has on several occasions before decided to withhold penalties in defiance of the NCCC.
Somchai refused to give interviews yesterday on the NCCC's ruling.
The crux of the disciplinary case against Somchai is his neglect in failing to penalise two senior officials from the Justice Ministry's Legal Execution Department.
Then director-general Pramarn Tiyapaiboonsin and his deputy Manit Suthaporn were found to have wrongfully waived a 5-per-cent fee on the auction of two plots worth Bt897 million as ordered by the Pathum Thani Provincial Court.
Under the ministry's chain of command, responsibility for Somchai's lapse of duty extends to then justice minister Suthas Ngernmuen and deputy permanent secretary Bandit Ratchatanan, who is now a senior judge.
The NCCC dropped disciplinary charges against Suthas since he was a political office-holder and subject to criminal law, not civil-service regulations.
It ruled to penalise Bandit and will forward his case to the Judiciary Commission for disciplinary action.
Justice Minister Somsak Kiartsuranont said he would appoint a panel to review the NCCC report before deciding the next move.
Somsak is the ex-officio chairman of disciplinary committees for justice officials.
He voiced scepticism on the merits and practicality of a retroactive dismissal for a retired official like Somchai.
By The Nation
Published on October 17, 2008
Top brass heap pressure on PM through Channel 3 talks
If it was some kind of a coup, it was one that has never been staged before.
No machine guns and tanks were in sight when the military and police leaders arrived at TV Channel 3 late yesterday afternoon. When they left three hours later, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government was shaken to its core.
Army chief Anupong Paochinda led the historic commentary that was soft in tone but brutally harsh in substance. The top brass's unspoken message delivered at the news talk programme hosted by Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda was clear: Mr Prime Minister, you'd better go.
Anupong all but held the government accountable for the October 7 bloodshed, saying he was well aware of "orders" that the police had to follow. He also expressed regret for failing to warn that such orders could lead to violence.
"[Before the crowd dispersal] I told the police chief the Army wouldn't do anything," Anupong said when asked about his role on the tragic day. "It wasn't just about me. It was about the entire Arny. We had to stand by the people. We wouldn't do it even if we had been given the authority to do it."
Although he and the other top brass showed unwavering unity, they ruled out a new coup which they insisted would only mean the Armed Forces choose to take side in a conflict that divides Thailand. But what they said was enough to have Somchai's residence immediately crawl with reporters and senior People Power Party members.
"If the government ordered it [the use of drastic measures], it will have to take responsibility," Anupong said. "This is not meant to pressure the government, but someone has to show responsibility. No-one can stay on a pool of blood. No-one can."
Asked what he would do if he was prime minister in that situation, Anupong replied: "I would resign. As long as society can't accept the action, this issue is never going to end."
The military and police leaders did not say the government had lost their support, yet Anupong's firm declaration that the military had to stay in the middle severely undercut Prime Minister Somchai's authority and rendered his concurrent position as defence minister meaningless.
"This is obviously a collective demand for the prime minister to resign without having to stage a coup," said a source close to Somchai. "This gets us in a difficult situation."
The People's Alliance for Democracy, which had turned against Anupong for his "inaction" before, during and after the October 7 bloodbath, reacted cautiously. The Manager newspaper's website highlighted his virtual call for Somchai's resignation and discussion forums were a mix of renewed praises for Anupong and scepticism.
Anupong also strongly denied PAD's allegations that he now had vested interests with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who allegedly sheltered and sponsored the Army chief's daughter studying in England.
"My children were never involved with them. My daughter who has studied in England mostly kept to herself and didn't get involved with anyone," he said. "I've never received anyone's money."
Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jaggabatara called for a compromise to end the protracted political crisis and insisted that the military would never use force to interfere. Police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan would not specify who gave the order to disperse the PAD protesters, only saying everyone should wait for results of investigation.
Earlier in the day, Somchai, besiged with the political and economic crises as well as border tension with Cambodia, said he might step down once a new Constitution is in place through an independent drafting assembly. His immediate reaction to the unprecedented TV revolt was not avaible, though it now seems he may have to ponder leaving the post far sooner than that.
PM Somchai will face mandatory dismissal.
By The Nation
Published on October 17, 2008
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat committed serious malfeasance when he was the permanent secretary for the Justice Ministry in 1999, the National Counter Corruption Commission said yesterday.
Somchai would face mandatory dismissal under the anti-graft law of 1998 if the Justice Ministry's Civil Service Committee agrees with the NCCC after the commission forwards its report to the panel.
The dismissal would be made retroactive to the date of wrongdoing, but would not change Somchai's performance of his duties or his pay and benefits as a retired civil servant.
Somchai is entitled to appeal any disciplinary action to the ministry's committee and then to the Civil Service Commission, which has the final say in such matters. The commission has on several occasions before decided to withhold penalties in defiance of the NCCC.
Somchai refused to give interviews yesterday on the NCCC's ruling.
The crux of the disciplinary case against Somchai is his neglect in failing to penalise two senior officials from the Justice Ministry's Legal Execution Department.
Then director-general Pramarn Tiyapaiboonsin and his deputy Manit Suthaporn were found to have wrongfully waived a 5-per-cent fee on the auction of two plots worth Bt897 million as ordered by the Pathum Thani Provincial Court.
Under the ministry's chain of command, responsibility for Somchai's lapse of duty extends to then justice minister Suthas Ngernmuen and deputy permanent secretary Bandit Ratchatanan, who is now a senior judge.
The NCCC dropped disciplinary charges against Suthas since he was a political office-holder and subject to criminal law, not civil-service regulations.
It ruled to penalise Bandit and will forward his case to the Judiciary Commission for disciplinary action.
Justice Minister Somsak Kiartsuranont said he would appoint a panel to review the NCCC report before deciding the next move.
Somsak is the ex-officio chairman of disciplinary committees for justice officials.
He voiced scepticism on the merits and practicality of a retroactive dismissal for a retired official like Somchai.
