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Thai Navy Seal chief may quit if sent to an inactive post


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Navy Seal chief may quit if sent to an inactive post
Panya Thiosangwan,
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation

Move follows reports some officers worked as guards in political rallies

BANGKOK: -- The chief of the Naval Special Warfare Command, Rear Admiral Winai Klom-in, said yesterday the decision on whether to transfer him was up to the Royal Thai Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Narong Pipatanasai.


Winai said he had not thought about resigning and would respect Narong's decision as he had been in the current position for three years. However, he was a working man, so he might consider quitting if he were transferred to an inactive post, or came under too much pressure from politics.

Defence Ministry permanent secretary General Nipat Thonglek said he was waiting for the Election Commission to approve the military reshuffle list before passing it to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The list is expected to arrive by Monday. Yingluck would then undersign and submit it for royal endorsement.

According to the law, a caretaker government needs the EC to approve such reshuffles, to prevent moves for electoral advantage.

Nipat said Yingluck, who is also caretaker defence minister, was not part of the proposal to transfer Winai. It was a move by Narong to take responsibility after many SEALs officers were found involved in the political rallies.

Winai said yesterday his agency had not taken part in political activities, but some officers might have wanted to protect people from danger.

An anti-government protest faction, the Students' and People's Network for Thailand's Reform (STR), rallied at the Royal Thai Navy headquarters yesterday and submitted a letter asking the navy chief to review his decision to transfer Winai.

STR leader Nitithorn Lamlua said Winai's transfer was political interference. There had been attempts to remove Winai and other military personnel for some time who were deemed to be in the anti-government camp.

Petition to His Majesty

Meanwhile, another activist group led by Lt-Colonel Kamolpan Cheewa-pansri rallied yesterday and submitted a petition to His Majesty via the Royal Household Bureau and the Defence Ministry to "seek justice" for Winai.

But Nipat said that as far as he knew, only a "damaged" party could file such a petition.

A government source, who asked not to be named, said that among the officers set to be transferred this time was Lt-General Walit Rojjana-phakdee, who was seriously injured when he was the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division deployed during the red-shirt protest crackdown at Khok Wua Intersection in 2010 and now commander of the First Army Corp. He is expected to be promoted as Fourth Army Region commander.

Meanwhile, Maj-General Varah Boonyasit, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, is expected to be promoted as deputy commander of the First Army Region.

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-- The Nation 2014-03-15

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Not a.lot of good press for the navy these days. Besides the seals issue there is the human trafficking issue. Sounds like a great place to begin the badly needed reformation. Start at the top as there appears to be serious problems with command control. Either the leaders did not know what was happening, they turned a blind eye to what was happening or they were complicit. Regardless, there is a correctable problem. Good luck Thailand, peace may depend on it.

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He obviously should not be over seeing an organization responsible for covert operations if his personnel are repeatedly caught engaging in inappropriate activities, when they were supposed to be "covert". The rear admiral has embarrassed too many people in the senior command.

Are you talking about Yingluck???, She is the C/defense minister wasn't she aware of her commands deeds ?? Your first sentence, She should be overseeing **maybe they are doing the exact thing the government were ENGAGED in-inappropriate activities.

Edited by ginjag
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As they say , if it is too hot in the kitchen , get out.

Almost. "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen".

'They' also say, "Out of the frying pan, into the fire".

Edited by laobali
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Well I suppose that if he resigns .from the navy he can always get a job as a PDRC guard!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

But he'd only get one pay cheque...currently, it seems, he gets 2..

Edited by ChrisY1
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