Motion To Impeach Sukampol Over Abhisit Army Row

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POLITICS

Motion to impeach Sukampol over Abhisit army row

The Nation

Sukumpol//Photo : Sakol Sandhiratne

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party on Friday filed an impeachment motion against Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, alleging that he abused his authority in stripping the Democrat leader of his Army rank.

The motion was signed by 153 Democrat MPs and was submitted by partylist MP Pussadee Tamthai to Senate Speaker Nikhom Waiyaratphanich.

Sukampol has signed an order to endorse a decision of a Defence Ministry panel to strip Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva of his Army sub lieutenant rank on allegations that he used fake documents to apply for a job as a military lecturer.

The impeachment motion alleged that Sukampol had committed malfeasance by ordering the rank revocation against Abhisit in violation of the Military Disciplinary Act of 1933. The motion said the act did not allow the defence minister to strip a retired military officer of his or her rank and the Council of State has earlier interpreted that act and announced that the Defence Ministry could not retroactively fire retired military officers.

The motion also alleged that Sukampol intended to abuse his authority to prevent the Democrat leader from carrying out his duty as the opposition leader with the order. The motion noted that Sukampol told the Pheu Thai meeting and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that he would take action against Abhisit.

-- The Nation 2012-11-16

[ratcatcher]

This is turning into a pissing contest now.

[gl555]

PTP scum. Running the country to the ground but still has time to pull stunts like these to try to bring down the opposition.

[Fozfromoz]

If ALL of these politicians cared to look out of the window, they may see that there's a country out there that needs its attention.

If everyone put as much energy into policies and debates for the good of all, rather than discrediting others, then the place may progress.

[TomTao]

Is there a can of worms to be openned here, how many politcians on both sides have questionable histories with regard to national service? People throwing stones in glass houses comes to mind.

[virtualtraveller]

I'm looking forward to the outcome of this, the Establishment must be very annoyed that he forced the army to sack their greatest ally, the generals will get him back for sure!!

[jayjayjayjay]

This is turning into a pissing contest now.

And when has it not been a pissing contest? I remember back only until 1988 and shit hit the fan big-time soon after than with ChatChai, and it ain't been any different since.

[asiawatcher]

This is turning into a pissing contest now.

And when has it not been a pissing contest? I remember back only until 1988 and shit hit the fan big-time soon after than with ChatChai, and it ain't been any different since.

Very true, and it never will change. Tit for Tat, T.i.T.

[Noistar]

If ALL of these politicians cared to look out of the window, they may see that there's a country out there that needs its attention.

If everyone put as much energy into policies and debates for the good of all, rather than discrediting others, then the place may progress.

A forlorn hope, but I can't agree more.

Shame the Government appear to have an agenda which doesn't seem to have the benefit of Thailand as its goal.

I await the cries of 'democracy'

[geriatrickid]

PTP scum. Running the country to the ground but still has time to pull stunts like these to try to bring down the opposition.

Well, if Abhisit did engage in an act of impropriety to obtain his rank, then the Defence Minister is indeed obliged to strip Abhisit of that rank.

Are you claiming that Abhisit gained his rank in an appropriate manner?

[geriatrickid]

I'm looking forward to the outcome of this, the Establishment must be very annoyed that he forced the army to sack their greatest ally, the generals will get him back for sure!!

Or maybe, the generals are ahving a little chuckle, keeping someone off balance and at their beholding?

Seems to me the generals would like someone else to take over the Democrat party now.

[Meetoo]

PTP scum. Running the country to the ground but still has time to pull stunts like these to try to bring down the opposition.

Well, if Abhisit did engage in an act of impropriety to obtain his rank, then the Defence Minister is indeed obliged to strip Abhisit of that rank.

Are you claiming that Abhisit gained his rank in an appropriate manner?

Are you claiming he didn't...???

[Phatcharanan]

PTP.

Bunch of losers.

[OzMick]

PTP scum. Running the country to the ground but still has time to pull stunts like these to try to bring down the opposition.

Well, if Abhisit did engage in an act of impropriety to obtain his rank, then the Defence Minister is indeed obliged to strip Abhisit of that rank.

Are you claiming that Abhisit gained his rank in an appropriate manner?

So far the only information released indicates a date on a document is a little over 3 months out of sync with RTA records, and that Abhisit submitted that replacement document knowingly or unknowingly that the date was incorrect. No statement has been made (AFAIK) that the correct date would have made his application to work as an instructor to fulfill his national service commitment invalid.

There is no claim that he did not fulfill his commitment. Should it turn out that the correct date was equally valid, it will make Sukampol and PTP to be a bunch of petty, vindictive opportunists arguing over a typo for political gain - a result that should surprise very few.

Edited November 16, 2012 by OzMick

[Bagwan]

What an indictment of the intelligence and maturity of the Defence Minister. I hope the Dems now raise the matter of whether Sukampol really was qualified to undertake the onerous duties of black board monitor when he attended Nakhon Nowhere Junior Mixed School. What a petty, vindictive moron he is.