WASSANA NANUAM AND AEKARACH SATTABURUTH
Bangkok Post
CALL FOR PM TO QUIT
Army chief Anupong Paojinda did not consult other military commanders before he took the bold step of calling on Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down, according to a military source.
Gen Anupong made the call during a TV talk show on Thursday.
The source, who is close to Supreme Commander Songkitti Chakkabatr, said Gen Anupong's suggestion took the other armed forces commanders by surprise.
Gen Anupong was accompanied by the supreme commander, the navy chief, the air force chief and the police chief.
The source said all Gen Songkitti had said to his close aides was that Gen Anupong had asked him to join him in the talk show, which would essentially touch on military policy regarding the Thai-Cambodian border situation.
The source said although the armed forces chiefs agree that Mr Somchai should resign to show responsibility for the violent Oct 7 clashes, they had no idea the army chief would make such a suggestion on the show.
Air force chief Itthiporn Supawong said yesterday Gen Anupong's call for Mr Somchai to resign was his personal opinion, and that Gen Anupong was only responding to a question from the programme host.
ACM Itthiporn said the military would not take sides over the political standoff, as it is required to serve every member of the public and protect every party to ensure peace in the country.
At a rehearsal for the royal cremation ceremony for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana yesterday, Gen Anupong was seen publicly meeting Mr Somchai for the first time since his blunt call for the prime minister's resignation.
After approaching and greeting Mr Somchai, the general moved away from the prime minister and sat three chairs away from him.
After noticing that he was being eyed by media, the prime minister decided to move closer to the general, finally sitting next to him.
They then exchanged a few words, but both looked uncomfortable.
To ease the situation, Gen Anupong called one of his subordinates to brief him on the Thai-Cambodia border situation.
Gen Anupong declined to reveal the content of his conversation with Mr Somchai, but said the military's stance is to give priority to the monarchy and to serve the people.
Chusak Sirinin, the secretary-general to the prime minister, said Mr Somchai has not been discouraged or worried by the pressure from the military chiefs and other political groups, particularly the People's Alliance for Democracy.
Acting PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrachang said Mr Somchai's decision to hang on was based on the recommendation of party members.
They wanted him to stay on until the new constitution drafting assembly, the third, has been set up, Mr Kudep said.
Gen Anupong made the call during a TV talk show on Thursday.
The source, who is close to Supreme Commander Songkitti Chakkabatr, said Gen Anupong's suggestion took the other armed forces commanders by surprise.
Gen Anupong was accompanied by the supreme commander, the navy chief, the air force chief and the police chief.
The source said all Gen Songkitti had said to his close aides was that Gen Anupong had asked him to join him in the talk show, which would essentially touch on military policy regarding the Thai-Cambodian border situation.
The source said although the armed forces chiefs agree that Mr Somchai should resign to show responsibility for the violent Oct 7 clashes, they had no idea the army chief would make such a suggestion on the show.
Air force chief Itthiporn Supawong said yesterday Gen Anupong's call for Mr Somchai to resign was his personal opinion, and that Gen Anupong was only responding to a question from the programme host.
ACM Itthiporn said the military would not take sides over the political standoff, as it is required to serve every member of the public and protect every party to ensure peace in the country.
At a rehearsal for the royal cremation ceremony for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana yesterday, Gen Anupong was seen publicly meeting Mr Somchai for the first time since his blunt call for the prime minister's resignation.
After approaching and greeting Mr Somchai, the general moved away from the prime minister and sat three chairs away from him.
After noticing that he was being eyed by media, the prime minister decided to move closer to the general, finally sitting next to him.
They then exchanged a few words, but both looked uncomfortable.
To ease the situation, Gen Anupong called one of his subordinates to brief him on the Thai-Cambodia border situation.
Gen Anupong declined to reveal the content of his conversation with Mr Somchai, but said the military's stance is to give priority to the monarchy and to serve the people.
Chusak Sirinin, the secretary-general to the prime minister, said Mr Somchai has not been discouraged or worried by the pressure from the military chiefs and other political groups, particularly the People's Alliance for Democracy.
Acting PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrachang said Mr Somchai's decision to hang on was based on the recommendation of party members.
They wanted him to stay on until the new constitution drafting assembly, the third, has been set up, Mr Kudep said.
10 comments:
if I were you Somchai, I would ask Anupong to resign.
If I were you Anupong, I would do a coup to get rid of Somchai.
If I wre Anupong, I would conquer Cambodia.
11:55 AM
Don't mix your dream with reality.
If I were Thai, I feel ashame about what is going on at the Khmer Thai border. All Thai have been told rather born as a dog than a Khmer but why you still want a piece of lower than dog as you would think or may be now Thai is lower than dog shit as I Khmer can see.
Thai is very rich compare to Cambodia but still want the tiny piece of land that was lost in international court to Cambodia long time ago.
If the land there cost $US5.00 per square metre for example, how much you think you will get out of this trouble?. when greedy people try to do something they forget what the outcome is going to be.
Thai will lose more than Khmer because Thai die as an invader and we Khmer die as a hero to fight against an invader.
Thai now is not a very stable country any more, don't even know who is running the country, who is going to do what.
If I were Thai, I will not have anything to say about my neighbour!!
Thai peoples, have no shame.
If the Majesty King Javaraman I of Cambodia built the Preah Vihear Temple.
Which people own the land surrounding Preah Vihear Temple?
A. Cambodian
B. Thai
C. Chinese
D. Laotian
E. Vietnamese
Thai have pick B for their answer.
Thai people have show to the world that they are the world most F*CKING ST*P*D S*N OF B*TES M*TH*R F*CK*R in the world.
Victim of Thai Aggression
(Khmer)
Victim, you are right.
Thai people have no shame.
11:55 AM,
If I were anupong, I will bomb thai royal palace, coz it is the place that push and plan the invasion of Khmer territory...
Yes, I fully agree with you 2:27 PM. It is right. There is nothing wrong if they respect our territorial integrity/sovereignty, the Thais a long the border can also make good income from being residents nearby this temple. The agression/invasion idea is from Thai King who wants to grab this piece of land taking with him to hell. I am sure Ta Dy at Preah Vihear Temple would not let him.
Khmer refugee ghosts from KID fence shot by Thai soldiers during 1983 to 1988.
Bad Anupong you unilaterally ask Somchai to step down?
Really?
You kidding me?
You all bastard.
Amazing.
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