Abhisit Lodges Lawsuit Against Thai Defence Minister Sukampol

[webfact]

MILITARY DISMISSAL

Abhisit lodges lawsuit against Sukampol

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A lawyer for opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday filed a suit with the Central Administrative Court accusing Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat of illegally issuing an order to dismiss Abhisit as a military reservist and strip him of his rank and salary.

Those serving in the military reserve earn a state salary and pension. Sukampol endorsed a ministry committee's decision to dismiss Abhisit on the grounds he used falsified documents to apply for the position as a military lecturer.

Abhisit's lawsuit asserts that the Defence Ministry has no authority to dismiss a military official who has been decommissioned. Abhisit quit his military post 23 years ago.

Banthit Siripan, Abhisit's lawyer, said he would this week file a complaint against the Defence Ministry panel for committing malfeasance over its decision to dismiss Abhisit as a reservist.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the party would list Abhisit in the censure motion because it is confident he had committed no wrong.

Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said that if the Defence Ministry's order is legal, the Army would have to comply with it and strip Abhisit of his rank and salary because he could not object to an order from his superior.

He said the Army had nothing to do with the Defence Ministry's move over Abhisit. "The issue is not yet final. There are other procedures to process so we have to wait for the final decision," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana yesterday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission seeking a Constitution Court ruling on Abhisit's qualification as an MP following Sukampol's order to dismiss him.

He said seeking a Constitution Court ruling on the matter was of more import than the complaint filed with the Administrative Court in the case of former Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, which led to his departure from the Cabinet.

-- The Nation 2012-11-13

[Tatsujin]

Wish they'd all just grow up and stop playing their stupid games.

[Jawnie]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools and also at keeping young girls from getting pregnant too early so they all don't have to spend their entire lives relying on or listening to losers like him.

[JulietLima]

^{Apisit's accuser, in spite of his high position, is minus habens !}

[whybother]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools and also at keeping young girls from getting pregnant too early so they all don't have to spend their entire lives relying on or listening to losers like him.

I thought that would be the government's job.

[OZEMADE]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools and also at keeping young girls from getting pregnant too early so they all don't have to spend their entire lives relying on or listening to losers like him.

I thought that would be the government's job.

Well it's just another place where he and his gov failed miserably when they were in power. At this rate with his past lies on this issue, they don't look like getting back into power or knocking Yingluck off her perch either.

[alanferdi]

Boring..... THAILAND..... this is BORING!!! Get real and work on your problems.... stop whimpering over mundane things.. .. Would be better if these ministers got down to sacking the Police chief or his clones, who are not consistent in maintaining simple laws, Helmets on helmets off, driving through red lights, using the law like thugs only to take revenge or collect money..... GET REAL AMAZING THAILAND.

YOU GOT THE WRONG ATTITUDE!!!

[whybother]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools and also at keeping young girls from getting pregnant too early so they all don't have to spend their entire lives relying on or listening to losers like him.

I thought that would be the government's job.

Well it's just another place where he and his gov failed miserably when they were in power. At this rate with his past lies on this issue, they don't look like getting back into power or knocking Yingluck off her perch either.

Did they fail or did they not have enough time to make any significant change. Some of the changes they did make to help kids get to school and stay at school longer (uniform and equipment subsidies to age 15) were removed by the current government to help pay for the tablet scheme (where is that up to now?).

Of course, the government that had the most time to do anything about education, even with a PM as education minister, did very little to change anything.

[Arkady]

This case is definitely of legal interest. Whilst Abhisit's explanation of his conscription experience and what happened to the documents is not credible, it seems likely to me that the Defence Minister representing the civilian government indeed doesn't have the authority to annul a decision made by a military enquiry and make a legal decision on behalf of the military which has its own courts and justice system. Draft dodging is clearly a matter that is solely under the jurisdiction of military courts and the case was never even forwarded to military prosecutors because Abhisit was cleared by a military enquiry. If Abhisit were found guilty by a court martial, he should not only be stripped of his rank and have to return his salary with interest but he should also do time in the stockade.

In addition, there is a statute of limitations on draft dodging and desertion in Thailand which is 10-15 years. I know because I once had someone apply for a job as a driver who admitted that he didn't have a current ID card because he was still waiting the statute of limitations to expire after deserting from the Thai army which he found not to his taste after being conscripted. Some years later I heard that he was in the clear and had survived working without a current ID for as long as it took for the statute to expire. I think draft dodging is only 10 years, as it is a lesser crime than desertion.

Edited November 13, 2012 by Arkady

[tragickingdom]

Why not, you falsify documents, dodge a draft and than you sue because retroactive measures are imposed. Never mind, if he wins they should put him on the service and let him crawl to the mud with teenagers. Anyone who is rich and belong to the elite gets away with everything, military service is only for losers, the losers are the poor. Shame on Abhisit.

[whybother]

Why not, you falsify documents, dodge a draft and than you sue because retroactive measures are imposed. Never mind, if he wins they should put him on the service and let him crawl to the mud with teenagers. Anyone who is rich and belong to the elite gets away with everything, military service is only for losers, the losers are the poor. Shame on Abhisit.

Except that he isn't being accused of "falsifying documents".

[GazR]

Why not, you falsify documents, dodge a draft and than you sue because retroactive measures are imposed. Never mind, if he wins they should put him on the service and let him crawl to the mud with teenagers. Anyone who is rich and belong to the elite gets away with everything, military service is only for losers, the losers are the poor. Shame on Abhisit.

One of the top finishers in the last mayoral election only did one year of military conscription, but it hasn't hurt his career with Red Media. I guess this is just a news story which will take a long time to go nowhere - otherwise it may open a whole can of worms. Interesting that they are still targeting Abhisit in this way - they must still see him as a real threat to their inane propaganda and ruinous policies.

Edited November 13, 2012 by GazR

[Buchholz]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools

While I agree the current Education Ministry is in a shambles due to the Yingluck's parade of loser Cabinet ministers (three Education Ministers in 14 months) and could surely benefit from Abhisit's direction, a more pressing issue is how the Defence Ministry's time could be better spent by not focusing its resources on this issue from 26 years ago.

.

[kimamey]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools and also at keeping young girls from getting pregnant too early so they all don't have to spend their entire lives relying on or listening to losers like him.

I think his lawyers will do most of the work not him.

[scorecard]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools

While I agree the current Education Ministry is in a shambles due to the Yingluck's parade of loser Cabinet ministers (three Education Ministers in 14 months) and could surely benefit from Abhisit's direction, a more pressing issue is how the Defence Ministry's time could be better spent by not focusing its resources on this issue from 26 years ago.

.

There is the possibility that this could backfire.

Someone may regurgitate the fact that one the son of one of the most senior people in YLs team was dismissed from miltarty service after he deserted for many months, but somehow he's now employed by the military with an officer rank.

Fishy?

[Buchholz]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools

While I agree the current Education Ministry is in a shambles due to the Yingluck's parade of loser Cabinet ministers (three Education Ministers in 14 months) and could surely benefit from Abhisit's direction, a more pressing issue is how the Defence Ministry's time could be better spent by not focusing its resources on this issue from 26 years ago.

.

There is the possibility that this could backfire.

Someone may regurgitate the fact that one the son of one of the most senior people in YLs team was dismissed from miltarty service after he deserted for many months, but somehow he's now employed by the military with an officer rank.

Fishy?

but that slate was wiped clean after he spent 3 days as a monk

[Siripon]

Apisit did not dodge military service. He applied and taught for 6 months at the military college in Nakhon Nayok which is a legal option for Thais graduating abroad with a Bachelor or Masters degree.

The idea is to use them to teach military cadets something from their degrees.

This whole farce by Sukampon is clearly an attempt to derail the censure debate, but it won't work and hopefully will legally backfire on Pheua Thai.

What was it Yingluk promised? Reconciliation, not revenge!!!

[Pimay1]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools

While I agree the current Education Ministry is in a shambles due to the Yingluck's parade of loser Cabinet ministers (three Education Ministers in 14 months) and could surely benefit from Abhisit's direction, a more pressing issue is how the Defence Ministry's time could be better spent by not focusing its resources on this issue from 26 years ago.

.

There is the possibility that this could backfire.

Someone may regurgitate the fact that one the son of one of the most senior people in YLs team was dismissed from miltarty service after he deserted for many months, but somehow he's now employed by the military with an officer rank.

Fishy?

If it looks like a skunk, walks like a skunk, smells like a skunk..................

[JurgenG]

^{Apisit's accuser, in spite of his high position, is minus habens !}

This kind of remark can only come from Abhi 's side.

Only good with big words ....

_

Edited November 13, 2012 by JurgenG

[carra]

abhisit, you did wrong and now you have been caught, hold your hands up, say you were only doing the thai thing, and move on, I would respect you more

[metisdead]

*yawn*

Is not a valid contribution, nobody is forcing you to read this topic, if it is not of interest to you, move along and find something that interests you rather than post nonsense such as this.

[whybother]

abhisit, you did wrong and now you have been caught, hold your hands up, say you were only doing the thai thing, and move on, I would respect you more

What he seems to have done wrong is unknowingly use a fake letter that was provided to him by the state.

Edited November 13, 2012 by whybother

[Dap]

abhisit, you did wrong and now you have been caught, hold your hands up, say you were only doing the thai thing, and move on, I would respect you more

What he seems to have done wrong is unknowingly use a fake letter that was provided to him by the state.

That's beside the point. His name is Abhisit and that means whatever he did ... it was wrong.

[thaicbr]

Abhisit's time would be better spent helping school kids learn and improving Thai schools

While I agree the current Education Ministry is in a shambles due to the Yingluck's parade of loser Cabinet ministers (three Education Ministers in 14 months) and could surely benefit from Abhisit's direction, a more pressing issue is how the Defence Ministry's time could be better spent by not focusing its resources on this issue from 26 years ago.

.

There is the possibility that this could backfire.

Someone may regurgitate the fact that one the son of one of the most senior people in YLs team was dismissed from miltarty service after he deserted for many months, but somehow he's now employed by the military with an officer rank.

Fishy?

Actually after (allegedly) killing the police officer at RCA. DogbreathChalerm RETURNED to the Army and then transferred to the Royal Thai POLICE.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/HARD-TALK-What-tricks-has-Chalerm-got-up-his-sleev-58549.html

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Surrender-was-not-a-payoff-59375.html

http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/print.php?id=2921

[khunken]

The whole saga has as much credibility as the 'assassination plot'. One aim - target the opposition leader because he has the temerity to lead a censure motion. Just another Thaksin-style shoot the messenger which he was infamous for when legally in power.

[scorecard]

abhisit, you did wrong and now you have been caught, hold your hands up, say you were only doing the thai thing, and move on, I would respect you more

What he seems to have done wrong is unknowingly use a fake letter that was provided to him by the state.

That's beside the point. His name is Abhisit and that means whatever he did ... it was wrong.

Or, his name is abhisit and he's pretty good at preparing debating points and delivering those debating points.

So discedit him, regardless of whether this has any merit or not, and hopefully arrange somehow for him to be silenced during the upcomong debate.

Worry about (ignore) any other consequences later.

[Moruya]

^{Apisit's accuser, in spite of his high position, is minus habens !}

This kind of remark can only come from Abhi 's side.

Only good with big words ....

_

6 letters too long for you?

[waza]

^{Apisit's accuser, in spite of his high position, is minus habens !}

This kind of remark can only come from Abhi 's side.

Only good with big words ....

_

6 letters too long for you?

position has 8

[backtonormal]

Why not, you falsify documents, dodge a draft and than you sue because retroactive measures are imposed. Never mind, if he wins they should put him on the service and let him crawl to the mud with teenagers. Anyone who is rich and belong to the elite gets away with everything, military service is only for losers, the losers are the poor. Shame on Abhisit.

One of the top finishers in the last mayoral election only did one year of military conscription, but it hasn't hurt his career with Red Media. I guess this is just a news story which will take a long time to go nowhere - otherwise it may open a whole can of worms. Interesting that they are still targeting Abhisit in this way - they must still see him as a real threat to their inane propaganda and ruinous policies.

Never a threat as the 100 seat majority showed. Just dusting his cupboards. Anybody claiming to be uncorruptable like he did is there to be shot down.

Edited November 13, 2012 by metisdead
: 30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[Moruya]

^{Apisit's accuser, in spite of his high position, is minus habens !}

This kind of remark can only come from Abhi 's side.

Only good with big words ....

_

6 letters too long for you?

position has 8

Latin has 5