BURNING ISSUE

One battle the Army chief wants to avoid

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

File photo : Gen Prayuth

The row between General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Sondhi Limthongkul is a complex power game.

BANGKOK: -- Many may have thought that the Army chief is trying to gag the People's Alliance for Democracy leader. But the issue of press intimidation is just the tip of the iceberg.

For two consecutive days last week, about 50 to 100 soldiers protested near the office of ASTV Manager Media Group.

They voiced their loyalty to Prayuth and attacked Sondhi's media outlets for being critical of their Army chief.

ASTV-Manager retaliated by writing that the rallies were attempts to try to intimidate the press. The Thai Journalists Association issued a statement voicing concern for press freedom.

A large number of prominent figures shied away from commenting on the matter.

Red-shirt leader Thida Thawornseth made cautious and supportive remarks for the protesting soldiers, however.

The pro-red media outlets gave scant attention to the rallies while the mainstream press duly reported on the military's involvement in the bullying tactics.

Regardless of the impact on press freedom, Prayuth opted to send a clear message to Sondhi.

Last Thursday he made an inspection trip to the Si Sa Ket border areas, opposite Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple.

In responding to a question about the planned January 21 rally on the border dispute, he gave an emotional reply.

"Are you the government? If you are, then I will listen. But I don't know what to do because you are not."

Although he made reference to the PAD, he framed his reply as if he was speaking directly to Sondhi.

Based on his remarks, it is clear he is in the middle of crucial negotiations with the PAD. And he wants to reject whatever proposal it has advanced to him.

Further, the proposal is so sensitive to the fate of the government that he had no choice but to make his reply public in order to dispel any doubts on how he would steer the Army.

Since 2005, the PAD has been crusading to build up the ultra-nationalist sentiment over the border dispute with Cambodia.

It has sought to woo the military to back its agenda in regard to the border and anti-Thaksin issues. And it will not hesitate to destroy characters it see as standing in its way.

Former Army chief General Anupong Paochinda was a "good and patriotic" soldier until he fell from Sondhi's grace.

Prayuth used to be a darling of the yellow shirts. The PAD and its media mouthpiece started to question his leadership after he appeared to get cosy with the pro-Thaksin government.

It is noteworthy that as Prayuth and Sondhi are drifting apart, the red shirts have made an about-turn to support the Army chief.

Preceding the Prayuth-Sondhi row, the International Court of Justice had scheduled April to hear final arguments from Thailand and Cambodia before handing down the legal interpretation of its 1962 verdict on the temple later this year.

PAD strategists had hoped to use the dispute as a catalyst to bring down the government. But Prayuth has poured cold water any plan to snare the Army in the PAD's struggle with the government.

The Prayuth-Sondhi row took a curious turn with the appearance of the protesting soldiers. The men in uniform were subordinates of First Army Region commander Lt General Paiboon Kumchaya, seen as a Thaksin ally. The pro-Thaksin camp would certainly try to burn any bridges between Prayuth and the PAD. And Prayuth was slow to stop the rallies as he was reluctant to antagonise the people who have a crucial say on his retirement next year.

-- The Nation 2013-01-15

That silly little General should keep his nose well out of poltics - polictics have no place in the military

He should well and truly distance himself from what ever the PAD want him to do. It is bad enough that the army gets dragged into the mire as far as it does, without jumping at the request of a TV station with a very reactionary political stance.

It is a little bit like the conversations on Thaivisa. Being anti-red doesnt necessarily confer pro-yellow or vice versa on any particular person. Patently the army is largely anti-red, but that doesn't mean it has an identical ideology to people like the PAD. I am quite glad to see this change in the army, maybe finally they are learning to stay out of things a little bit, and do what the government of the day asks them to do and nothing more.

Now wouldn't that be a change for Thailand.

He should well and truly distance himself from what ever the PAD want him to do. It is bad enough that the army gets dragged into the mire as far as it does, without jumping at the request of a TV station with a very reactionary political stance.

It is a little bit like the conversations on Thaivisa. Being anti-red doesnt necessarily confer pro-yellow or vice versa on any particular person. Patently the army is largely anti-red, but that doesn't mean it has an identical ideology to people like the PAD. I am quite glad to see this change in the army, maybe finally they are learning to stay out of things a little bit, and do what the government of the day asks them to do and nothing more.

Now wouldn't that be a change for Thailand.

Except for the fact that the government of the day is pre-dominately pro red.. can you imagine the army doing what they ask.. you would have a civil war..

Let the army do what the army is supposed to do, protect the security of the nation, not get involved in politics. wishful thinking I know..

I wish the area in question was big enough to hold all the yellow and red shirts. Then let Thailand get on with the business of moving forward.

So we got it all wrong.The protesting soldiers at ASTV were, according to this Nation report, look norng of General Paiboon - a close Thaksin ally.They were trying drive a wedge between PAD and General Prayuth, and thus clearly under the direction of Thaksin through his chum Paiboon.

Just shows us doesn't it.

Well of course what it does show, sarcasm apart, is that the loony tunes fruitcake faction can be found not only among the usual suspects but is apparently live and well at The Nation.