Prayuth threatens to sue papers for accusing him of taking bribes

[webfact]

Prayuth threatens to sue papers for accusing him of taking bribes

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Tuesday threatened to sue some newspapers for accusing him of receiving certain interests in exchange for tasking no action in political conflicts.

"I will have to take legal actions against some newspapers that said I took no actions because I have received certain interests," Prayuth said.

"If the papers continue to have this kind of writing published, all of their staffs will be out of work. You know which papers I am talking about. They have never treated others with due respect.

"Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing … None of the military leaders wants [political] power."


-- The Nation 2014-04-29

[borisloosebrain]

Oh please ... This is the same military that granted themselves a bonus of of 1.8 billion baht after the 2006 coup ? All the top brass are battle shy but cash rich

[wprime]

If that's what they said then he has a legitimate case. Who are they to claim why he took no action? The media won't get away with this in the west, why should they be above the law here?

[Costas2008]

General, sue them for slander.

And sue, the government members for supporting these newspapers.

Unfortunately, only dirty accusations is left for them to defend their inability to govern or even stand as public figures.

[Thai at Heart]

Now this could be very interesting to watch. If someone defamed me like that, I would just sue.

Why wouldn't he sue, only threaten to?

Edited April 29, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[Brevity]

He may want to get off his high horse, hush his voice a little and hope this bit of press goes away quickly because I would bet dollars to doughnuts that if certain agencies delved into his financial situation, they'd likely find a big discrepancy between his accountable earnings and his total assets.

[kuiburi]

I like and trust the general , IMO he is one of the few honorable people in a high power position .

He's to proud and loyal to be corrupt .

[h90]

"Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing … None of the military leaders wants [political] power."

No there was never any corrupt military and never will be.......And never any military leader wanted political power.....And so there never were any coups and never any retired military tried to get political power.

In general the military is holier than the pope.....

Or maybe he is just sarcastic and mocking everyone....ala "No I didn't take any money as no soldier would take any free money, hohoho"

[toonsai]

Very simple... What is the salary of a General? Then look at their assets, cars, houses and lifestyle. Sure not corrupted? People want to get rid of corruption? That's what protesters say... Fine, great intention. But be aware that this might cause a heavy bloodbath.

So much hypocrisy here.

[chainarong]

The media would do well to keep their collective mouths shut , the General has a ligit case of liable, to accuse someone of taking bribes regardless of who they are unless they can prove this in a court is treading a very narrow path, one wonders if there is more than the papers behind such accusations.

[bigbamboo]

Hardly surprising given that practically everybody in the public eye will sue anyone here at a drop of a hat.

[ChrisY1]

""Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing"

I would agree with the good general....these guys make more than enough out of the Military budget.....and of course, the purchase of military equipment

[h90]

The media would do well to keep their collective mouths shut , the General has a ligit case of liable, to accuse someone of taking bribes regardless of who they are unless they can prove this in a court is treading a very narrow path, one wonders if there is more than the papers behind such accusations.

Thai law, even if they can prove it in a court they are wrong if they tell it.

[h90]

""Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing" I would agree with the good general....these guys make more than enough out of the Military budget.....and of course, the purchase of military equipment

There is no military purchase in the west, in Europe, countries like Germany, without 10 % commission.

There was the case of Russian fighter planes and the Russian exploded on an interview. It can't be payment in low quality frozen chicken (from CP???) and the commission cash in US Dollar......

[h90]

Very simple... What is the salary of a General? Then look at their assets, cars, houses and lifestyle. Sure not corrupted? People want to get rid of corruption? That's what protesters say... Fine, great intention. But be aware that this might cause a heavy bloodbath.

So much hypocrisy here.

We have a policeman in our soi. 3 or 4 cars, 2 of it brand new Mercedes. The house isn't a house it is a palace.......As he is a nice guy I think he had a lucky hand at the lottery or in the stock market.

[chotthee]

"Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing"

I double that.

[issanaus]

Now this could be very interesting to watch. If someone defamed me like that, I would just sue.

Why wouldn't he sue, only threaten to?

That's is the question that is most interesting.

My speculation is that he wants the paper(s) to cut down on the hype and stop making the situation worse than it is. If he sues he would probably win and maybe put the paper out of business - if his interest was personal and financial that would be the best action. However that would take time and I suspect that he is interested in the here and now. By threatening he maybe be able to influence the paper to comply with his wish (reduce the hype) and do so now while it is most useful.

He is a solider and understands that while the bullet is unfired it continues to be useful - but that you can only fire a bullet once.

[boomerangutang]

Now this could be very interesting to watch. If someone defamed me like that, I would just sue.

Why wouldn't he sue, only threaten to?

That's is the question that is most interesting.

My speculation is that he wants the paper(s) to cut down on the hype and stop making the situation worse than it is. If he sues he would probably win and maybe put the paper out of business - if his interest was personal and financial that would be the best action. However that would take time and I suspect that he is interested in the here and now. By threatening he maybe be able to influence the paper to comply with his wish (reduce the hype) and do so now while it is most useful.

He is a solider and understands that while the bullet is unfired it continues to be useful - but that you can only fire a bullet once.

"If he sues he would probably win" ...but maybe not, which would explain why he is 'threatening' but not acting. I could also picture, if it came to litigation, that the General may then try to block certain things from being divulged and/or threaten certain people not to speak the truth. Many stranger things have happened within Thai power politics.

[rreddin]

Now this could be very interesting to watch. If someone defamed me like that, I would just sue.

Why wouldn't he sue, only threaten to?

That's is the question that is most interesting.

My speculation is that he wants the paper(s) to cut down on the hype and stop making the situation worse than it is. If he sues he would probably win and maybe put the paper out of business - if his interest was personal and financial that would be the best action. However that would take time and I suspect that he is interested in the here and now. By threatening he maybe be able to influence the paper to comply with his wish (reduce the hype) and do so now while it is most useful.

He is a solider and understands that while the bullet is unfired it continues to be useful - but that you can only fire a bullet once.

While I am sure the general believes he would be vindicated, it may be a pyrrhic victory for the military. That might explain why he is sabre rattling.

[englishoak]

"Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing … None of the military leaders wants [political] power."

Bwaahahaahaaaa so full of it

[fab4]

Now this could be very interesting to watch. If someone defamed me like that, I would just sue.

Why wouldn't he sue, only threaten to?

That's is the question that is most interesting.

My speculation is that he wants the paper(s) to cut down on the hype and stop making the situation worse than it is. If he sues he would probably win and maybe put the paper out of business - if his interest was personal and financial that would be the best action. However that would take time and I suspect that he is interested in the here and now. By threatening he maybe be able to influence the paper to comply with his wish (reduce the hype) and do so now while it is most useful.

He is a solider and understands that while the bullet is unfired it continues to be useful - but that you can only fire a bullet once.

Oh come on, he's notoriously thin skinned. In January last year he had army soldiers demonstrating outside of the ASTV offices when they accused him of being like a woman with a period over his handling of the border skirmishes with Cambodia over Preah Vihear. The PAD were upset he hadn't started a war with Cambodia apparently

This past weekend, around 40-50 military officers gathered in front of the building of ASTV-Manager protesting the newspaper’s harsh criticism of the army and the ‘slandering’ of their armed forces chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha. The soldiers from the 1st army regionassembled on Friday afternoon after the newspaper compared Prayuth’s most recent outburst to a “woman in her periods”.

A second protest was staged on Saturday morning at the same spot and they threatened to repeat it again every day until the paper apologizes.

The show of force by the officers in green came after a public tit-for-tat between General Prayuth and the newspaper, the latter attacking the armed forces for their handling of the border conflict with neighboring Cambodia over the ancient Hindu temple Preah Vihear.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/95280/thai-army-ordered-to-stand-down-after-bullying-yellow-shirt-paper/

Here they are. If you look closely you'll see the Starbung coffee vendor was there in the background, top right (before Starbucks got all unnecessary, obviously)

He called them off eventually and then denied he ordered them to do it He does a lot of denying, does Prayuth.

[Thai at Heart]

Now this could be very interesting to watch. If someone defamed me like that, I would just sue.

Why wouldn't he sue, only threaten to?

That's is the question that is most interesting.

My speculation is that he wants the paper(s) to cut down on the hype and stop making the situation worse than it is. If he sues he would probably win and maybe put the paper out of business - if his interest was personal and financial that would be the best action. However that would take time and I suspect that he is interested in the here and now. By threatening he maybe be able to influence the paper to comply with his wish (reduce the hype) and do so now while it is most useful.

He is a solider and understands that while the bullet is unfired it continues to be useful - but that you can only fire a bullet once.

Would probably win. I am not going to say anything defamatory whatsoever, but what does the head of the Thai armed forces get paid these days?

The PM gets 150k per month. The head of Thai airways gets what? U think he would have a good chance of winning.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

[Mango Bob]

I for one will be glad to see you retire in a few months. You have been worthless to this country and the government you serve. Why is government house still under control from protesters. A symbol of this country is controlled by thugs while you sit back and do nothing about it. This show your true colors. A yellow streak down the middle of your back. Do your job and take back the government house with or without force. You made a laughing stock of this country and the people who have the right to vote which was denied. Protect the people who live in work for this country not the thugs who are taken hand outs to stay in a park and cheer when told to. You are a shame to this country Prayuth. Hide your head deep in the ground. As with the insurgents in the south and the thugs in Bangkok you did nothing. Hope you are proud of yourself.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Mango Bob

[noitom]

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Now this could be very interesting to watch. If someone defamed me like that, I would just sue.

Why wouldn't he sue, only threaten to?

In Thailand there is just the threat. How many times do you recall ever reading about follow through on defamation suit threats?

[cgphuket]

The military doesnt need to take bribes, they make plenty of money running drugs out on Burma.

[boomerangutang]

"Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing None of the military leaders wants [political] power."

Bwaahahaahaaaa so full of it

I don't know much about Prayuth, but I know that, in order to rise in the ranks of the Thai military, a person has to pay higher-ups. Promotions are not based on skills or knowledge or wisdom. That at least partly explains why leaders are low class. An example: the army general who ordered shoot-to-kill at a small group of demonstrators in Kru Sae. Those needless killings led to Tak Bai, where some other generals ordered prisoners (again, a peaceful demonstration) be stacked like cordwood in the back of idling flatbed trucks for hours. Over 70 died that night from suffocation. It's no wonder why southern Thailand is wracked by turmoil. With crappy leaders at the head of the military, it's a surprise things aren't worse in southern Thailand. P.S. both those incidents happened while Mr. 'CEO PM' Thaksin was at the helm. Did anyone get disciplined for the unnecessary deaths? Are you kidding? This is Thailand. The word 'responsibility' isn't in their vocabulary.

[h90]

"Nobody can buy the military no matter how much they offer because the military wants nothing None of the military leaders wants [political] power."

Bwaahahaahaaaa so full of it

I don't know much about Prayuth, but I know that, in order to rise in the ranks of the Thai military, a person has to pay higher-ups. Promotions are not based on skills or knowledge or wisdom. That at least partly explains why leaders are low class. An example: the army general who ordered shoot-to-kill at a small group of demonstrators in Kru Sae. Those needless killings led to Tak Bai, where some other generals ordered prisoners (again, a peaceful demonstration) be stacked like cordwood in the back of idling flatbed trucks for hours. Over 70 died that night from suffocation. It's no wonder why southern Thailand is wracked by turmoil. With crappy leaders at the head of the military, it's a surprise things aren't worse in southern Thailand. P.S. both those incidents happened while Mr. 'CEO PM' Thaksin was at the helm. Did anyone get disciplined for the unnecessary deaths? Are you kidding? This is Thailand. The word 'responsibility' isn't in their vocabulary.

Well Mr. Thaksin told that they only died because they were weak because of the Ramadan........

[Emptyset]

General, sue them for slander.

And sue, the government members for supporting these newspapers.

Unfortunately, only dirty accusations is left for them to defend their inability to govern or even stand as public figures.

It's the anti-govt side who believe Prayuth has been bribed by Thaksin not to stage a coup - rumours in Manager etc. There's an interesting column on the Asia Times Online* website which appears every few months, written by two American experts on the Thai military. They seem to have very good sources. And there was a piece by them back in either Jan or Feb which suggested there was anger within a mostly anti-govt officer corps directed at Prayuth because of an alleged deal with Thaksin. Of course, it may be that they'd been frustrated by Prayuth's refusal to stage a coup and believed there had be money involved in his decision making process.

*Like Manager, it's also, I believe, owned by Sondhi, though apparently not under his editorial control.

[Anon999]

He may want to get off his high horse, hush his voice a little and hope this bit of press goes away quickly because I would bet dollars to doughnuts that if certain agencies delved into his financial situation, they'd likely find a big discrepancy between his accountable earnings and his total assets.

Unfounded accusations are cheap. You could always put or shut up.

[HerIndoors]

The truth of the matter is, nobody needs to bribe the military as they are a power unto themselves anyway. No government of ANY colour has ever had control over the military. It is a historical fact that they have certain political leanings but as for any government truly having control over the Thai military .. no way.

It is a total sham ... ooops I meant shame.