Thai generals ask former assassin to be security adviser

BANGKOK: -- Frustrated by their inability to pacify a Muslim insurgency and concerned about rising impatience toward their rule, Thailand's generals have named a former commando and self-described assassin as their top security adviser.

The appointment this month of Pallop Pinmanee, a retired general notorious for his harsh tactics but admired for his survival instincts, appears to be an acknowledgement that the military-backed government's conciliatory approach toward Muslim insurgents in southern Thailand has failed.

"The way to solve the problem in the south is to get the people on your side," Pallop said in an interview this week. But if the violence continues, he said, the military should carry out "search and destroy" missions against the insurgents. "If we cannot make them surrender, then we have no choice - we have to destroy them."

Pallop's appointment also seems to signal that the generals who overthrew the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September, and who have trodden lightly against their political opponents so far, are contemplating harsher and more repressive actions toward dissent.

Pallop said Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the general who led the September coup, asked him to serve as an adviser during a round of golf in March. The two men once served together in a special warfare unit.

Pallop, a retired general who turned 71 on Friday, speaks about his days as an army-appointed assassin in a casual, matter-of-fact tone and offers little to dispel his tough-guy reputation. He was the leader of what he called the "killer team," a secret seven-man unit of the army in 1970 that carried out extrajudicial killings. "The assignment was to kill the leaders of communist groups all over Thailand," Pallop said.

Pallop also served as a guerrilla mercenary for the CIA along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the 1960s.

But he is perhaps best known for his decision to raid the Krue Se mosque in southern Thailand in 2004, a controversial move that left 32 insurgents dead. The raid helped reignite the centuries-old conflict between Thai Buddhists and ethnic Malay Muslims.

"Diplomacy is not his strong point," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, said of Pallop. "His expertise is to kill people and deal with things by force."

It is too early to tell how influential Pallop will be in the government. But amid rumors of countercoups and maneuvering by Thaksin's allies, the generals seem to have calculated that they needed the skills of a master tactician. Pallop has been involved in three military coups and is alleged to have once plotted an assassination against an army commander.

"When things get hairy, you get Pallop on your side," Thitinan said. "He knows how to fight back."

Pallop began his new job on May 3 at the Internal Security Operations Command, a military agency created under another name in the 1960s as a tool to fight communists in the country. Returning to ISOC, as the agency is known, was a rehabilitation for Pallop, who until last August was the deputy director of the agency but was fired when Thaksin accused him of plotting to assassinate him.

Pallop ridiculed the idea at the time, saying, "If I had done it, I guarantee that the prime minister would not have survived."

Pallop says he is using ISOC's network of 700,000 volunteers around the country to gather intelligence on opponents to the generals' rule.

"They are our eyes around the country," he said.

On Tuesday, he plans to meet with one of the critics of the junta, Veera Musikapong, who has led demonstrations and is sympathetic to Thaksin.

"To get the tiger cub you have to go to the tiger's cave," Pallop said, adding that he would warn Veera that protesting against the junta risked destabilizing Thailand further.

If this approach does not work, the junta will have to consider emergency rule to stop what he calls "mobs" from protesting, Pallop said.

"We are trying to avoid this because it would mean a lot of violence and fighting," he said of emergency rule.

The Thai constitutional court is scheduled to decide on Wednesday whether Thaksin's party and the leading opposition party should be disbanded for fraud, a ruling that could further unsettle a country yearning for a return to normalcy.

Opposition to the ruling generals has mounted in recent months as discussions on a new constitution have dragged on and the situation in the south has deteriorated.

After seizing power in September, the junta vowed to take a soft approach toward the southern insurgency in contrast to Thaksin's hard-line stance. Last November, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont issued a far-reaching public apology on behalf of the Thai state for what he called flawed government policies toward local Malay Muslims.

But this and other olive branches failed to stem the daily killings of civilians - rubber tappers, municipal workers and teachers chief among them.

Pallop says he can beat insurgents at their own game because it's a game he has played himself - in 1966 and 1967, when he led guerrilla units in attacks against North Vietnamese traveling the Ho Chi Minh Trail. "The strategy of hit and run I know very well," Pallop said.

Pallop declined to reveal exactly how many suspected communists he and his six fellow assassins killed in 1970 - "many, many," he said - but he lamented one particular rebel who got away: Payom Chulanont, the father of the current military-appointed prime minister, Surayud.

"We almost got him," Pallop said dryly.

He did not want to name the people he assassinated because it would upset too many relatives still alive today, he said.

Pallop appeared relaxed in the interview and said he had stayed alive this long because he was a careful person. His colleagues seem more concerned. Aides carried into his office a birthday present from a fellow general in the Thai Army: a bulletproof vest.

-- IHT 2007-05-26

can anyone say , Tai Bak .........................

Was this the guy not impicated in the Thaksin bomb event or non-event?

Its a military dictatorship.....what do you expect? some Nobel peace prize winner? Maybe you need a stronger shade of rose tint for your glasses.

Its a military dictatorship.....what do you expect? some Nobel peace prize winner? Maybe you need a stronger shade of rose tint for your glasses.

Maybe it's the extremes that people find hard to swallow . . .

Keep your friends close- and your enemies closer.

Gonna be interesting to see what develops with this guy in control ? !

"Colonel Troutman is that you?"

"You want a war, HE IS WAR !!?

Atleast they realise that talking isn't going to do anything [since there is no-one to talk to!] and will start doing something effective about it. Needle-operations will be the only way.

Charming to see what folks the government cooperates with in order to restore democracy as soon as possible.

Atleast they realise that talking isn't going to do anything [since there is no-one to talk to!] and will start doing something effective about it. Needle-operations will be the only way.

I wouldn't call Kreu Se a 'needle-operation'- more like a massacre.

Thai generals ask former assassin to be security adviser

Pallop, a retired general who turned 71 on Friday, speaks about his days as an army-appointed assassin in a casual, matter-of-fact tone and offers little to dispel his tough-guy reputation. He was the leader of what he called the "killer team," a secret seven-man unit of the army in 1970 that carried out extrajudicial killings. "The assignment was to kill the leaders of communist groups all over Thailand," Pallop said.

Pallop also served as a guerrilla mercenary for the CIA along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the 1960s.

Pallop declined to reveal exactly how many suspected communists he and his six fellow assassins killed in 1970 - "many, many," he said - but he lamented one particular rebel who got away: Payom Chulanont, the father of the current military-appointed prime minister, Surayud.

"We almost got him," Pallop said dryly.

He did not want to name the people he assassinated because it would upset too many relatives still alive today, he said.

So the army has appointed a murdering criminal to help them.nice.

Thai generals ask former assassin to be security adviser

Pallop, a retired general who turned 71 on Friday, speaks about his days as an army-appointed assassin in a casual, matter-of-fact tone and offers little to dispel his tough-guy reputation. He was the leader of what he called the "killer team," a secret seven-man unit of the army in 1970 that carried out extrajudicial killings. "The assignment was to kill the leaders of communist groups all over Thailand," Pallop said.

Pallop also served as a guerrilla mercenary for the CIA along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the 1960s.

Pallop declined to reveal exactly how many suspected communists he and his six fellow assassins killed in 1970 - "many, many," he said - but he lamented one particular rebel who got away: Payom Chulanont, the father of the current military-appointed prime minister, Surayud.

"We almost got him," Pallop said dryly.

He did not want to name the people he assassinated because it would upset too many relatives still alive today, he said.

So the army has appointed a murdering criminal to help them.nice.

If it were just that the army had hired him it would be bad enough- but it is the dictators who have hired him. He is already "PR director" for ISOC. And ISOC's duties are NOT limited to the South. A dark day... but never mind- let's get back to 'what Thaksin DID!".

Thai generals ask former assassin to be security adviser

Pallop, a retired general who turned 71 on Friday, speaks about his days as an army-appointed assassin in a casual, matter-of-fact tone and offers little to dispel his tough-guy reputation. He was the leader of what he called the "killer team," a secret seven-man unit of the army in 1970 that carried out extrajudicial killings. "The assignment was to kill the leaders of communist groups all over Thailand," Pallop said.

Pallop also served as a guerrilla mercenary for the CIA along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the 1960s.

Pallop declined to reveal exactly how many suspected communists he and his six fellow assassins killed in 1970 - "many, many," he said - but he lamented one particular rebel who got away: Payom Chulanont, the father of the current military-appointed prime minister, Surayud.

"We almost got him," Pallop said dryly.

He did not want to name the people he assassinated because it would upset too many relatives still alive today, he said.

So the army has appointed a murdering criminal to help them.nice.

well, Thaksin takes the cake for that unenviable title, so got to give them a bit of credit for that.

Edited May 26, 200719 yr by Grover

One has to laugh, you lot follow leads like dogs on a trail.

A catchy headline and you're all barking.

Thaksin only sacked Pallop in August last year, so how many years had he been working for Thaksin?

Years, doing his bidding, disappearances, Krue Sae,Tak Bai etc, all on Thaksin's watch.

Sonthi brought him back because he's afraid what may happen next week after the Constitutional Court's ruling, namely mass protests led by TRT MPs and canvassers.

General Pallop with his network may be able to nip that in the bud.

One has to laugh, you lot follow leads like dogs on a trail.

A catchy headline and you're all barking.

Thaksin only sacked Pallop in August last year, so how many years had he been working for Thaksin?

Years, doing his bidding, disappearances, Krue Sae,Tak Bai etc, all on Thaksin's watch.

Sonthi brought him back because he's afraid what may happen next week after the Constitutional Court's ruling, namely mass protests led by TRT MPs and canvassers.

General Pallop with his network may be able to nip that in the bud.

And one of the scenarios is that there will be NO mass protests because there will be no serious penalties imposed. In which case Gen Pollop- as one of Thaksins most ardent opponents- (along with Saprong) would not be happy at all with the milquetoast response of this regime. So I say again- keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Ah Thailand, peaceful Buddhist land...

Though it is Buddhism for carnivores.....

Regards

By the by he's being interviewed on C 3 presently. 23:06 26/05

Regards

By the by he's being interviewed on C 3 presently. 23:06 26/05

Regards

Looks opretty good for 71 and certainly doesn't look like old ginger material.

Sounds like this chap reincarnated.

Does anyone know where this county's heading or have they just lost the map?

Atleast they realise that talking isn't going to do anything [since there is no-one to talk to!] and will start doing something effective about it. Needle-operations will be the only way.

I wouldn't call Kreu Se a 'needle-operation'- more like a massacre.

Next up you will say that 'dialog' is the best thing?

Next up you will say that 'dialog' is the best thing?

It worked very well so far in Aceh.

Next up you will say that 'dialog' is the best thing?

It worked very well so far in Aceh.

If you know who the counterpart in the dialog would be, please send a letter to the army.

Atleast they realise that talking isn't going to do anything [since there is no-one to talk to!] and will start doing something effective about it. Needle-operations will be the only way.

I wouldn't call Kreu Se a 'needle-operation'- more like a massacre.

Next up you will say that 'dialog' is the best thing?

Are you actually suggesting that Kreu Se somehow cowed the terroists into submission?

I don't know what the answer is- but I sure know, based on the history of this situation, what is NOT the answer- and that's more Kreu Ses or Tak Bais.

But I'm kind of surprised that you don 't seem to acknowledge that there might be measures somewhere between dialogue and massacres. Are those the only choices? And if they are- one thing we should have learned- the massacres didn't work. So by your standards- that leaves ONLY one alternative...

Edited May 28, 200719 yr by blaze

Next up you will say that 'dialog' is the best thing?

It worked very well so far in Aceh.

If you know who the counterpart in the dialog would be, please send a letter to the army.

Sweden has already offered its help in possible negotiations, which was rejected by the Thai government. The Thaksin government also held informal talks brokered by Mahatir.

A basic condition would be willingness of both partners to enter substantial negotiations. I do not know if the insurgents are ready for necessary compromises, but the Thai state for sure is not. Prem has refused the recommendation of the National Reconciliation Council headed by Anand to make Yawi a second official language in the three southern provinces.

If such a symbolic gesture is already refused, how then possibly can possible autonomy be mentioned. And that is besides the point that decades of nationalist brainwashing here in Thailand will make it very hard to explain the rest of the population that compromises might under circumstances be the smart thing to do.

No, what we are going to see there most likely before the end of the year is a change of strategy, when the present 'soft approach' of dealing with the insurgents as erring children has proved useless, and then we will have assasinations, massakers with most likely innocent victims or suspects without any proof being killed. And then we will see further escalation.

And then - ten or twenty years in the future - after much blood has been spilled, mostly of innocents, and some figures on both sides became insanely rich through profiteering, both sides will realise how futile all that violence is, and then enter negotiations.

I'm still waiting for someone to name a counterpart for a dialog.

I'm still waiting for someone to name a counterpart for a dialog.

You are the one that came up with the notion that the only alternative to Kreu Se was dialogue... but in fact a resumption of the Langkawi talks would probably not hurt. (these put gov't officials at the table with leaders of the established separatist organizations- Thaksin stopped the talks.)

At the table were Gerakan Mujahideen Islam Pattani president Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman, Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) vice president Razi Bin Hassan, Barisan Revolusi Nasional Congress (BRN) president Abdulah Bin Ismail, its vice president Abdullah Bin Idris and Bersatu president Wan Kadir Che Man.

I'm still waiting for someone to name a counterpart for a dialog.

I think you don't get it - as long as there is no will for dialog and substantial negotiations under the government the insurgents will not come forward either. They are much better off in obscurity. Simple strategy.

Or you can choose the arguments of the conspiracy theorists - and then the whole conflict is entirely home made, the insurgency led mostly by local MPs, to their profit and the profit of a few generals on the other side.

If Thaksin held informal talks brokered by Mahatir, and Sweden offered their help, then you can be sure that they will have a line to someone to talk to. We though will be the last people who get to know about who that someone may be.

Sounds like this chap reincarnated.

Do some checking before you pass on your urban legend e-mails, please!