Thai Army chief plays down claim about students

[webfact]

Army chief plays down claim about students
The Nation

Udomdej says allegation of Khon Kaen students being paid to be investigated

BANGKOK: -- Trying to play down the unsubstantiated allegation that five Khon Kaen University students were paid to protest against Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr said the media should henceforth approach him and not his subordinate Lt-General Kampanart Ruddit, the First Army Region Commander, who had made the allegation.

Kampanart alleged on Monday that the five students were paid Bt50,000 by a local politician, only to clarify a day later that the information was mere intelligence gathering.

"I request that this issue not be blown up," Udomdej said. "From now on, if there's any issue, do not ask the First Army Region Commander, as I am the superior of the First Army Region Commander and I will answer it myself.

"We have no intention to violate anything but as things have occurred, we will have to search for information and whatever was said must be clearly scrutinised further. I hope everyone understands and does not make it a big deal in future. Those who have been affected want clarification, and the Army is willing to listen and exchange information to verify whether what was said was accurate or not."

The Army chief's remarks came as students from the Dao Din group, who staged the three-finger salute in front of Prayut in Khon Kaen province last month, visited the National Human Rights Commission in Bangkok yesterday to insist on their innocence.

NHRC commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara met with the students and said he could assure the public that they had been engaged in altruistic activism for years and were not linked to any political group, as he knows them quite well.

Niran also said he had called Kampanart to discuss the matter and Kampanart had assured him that he did not believe in the intelligence information about the students and denied making any allegation against the student group.

Niran added that on December 12, the student group would be given a Human Rights Award in the youth category by the NHRC and perhaps Kampanart could also come and talk to the students in order to foster a clear understanding.

In a related development, the Army chief was asked by reporters yesterday if any of the politicians summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had sought permission to travel abroad during New Year. Those who have been summoned had to sign an agreement, which included a stipulation that they would need to seek permission from the junta if they wished to travel abroad.

Former PM Yingluck Shinawatra's name was mentioned by a reporter in relation to the question. Udomdej said those who behave well should have no problem getting the permission.

"When the request [for permission] is made, the NCPO will consider the suitability. If these people behave well and orderly within the limits I would understand," said Udomdej, who added that he had not seen Yingluck's name on the request list yet.

On the possibility of lifting martial law in some tourist areas for New Year's, the Army chief said it would depend on the assessment of the situation.

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Army-chief-plays-down-claim-about-students-30249120.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-04

[NongKhaiKid]

Oops, another case of ' foot in mouth disease ' by someone trying to please by saying the supposedly right thing ?

[Bluespunk]

"I request that this issue not be blown up,"

Unfortunate choice of words.

[Bluespunk]

"Niran added that on December 12, the student group would be given a Human Rights Award in the youth category by the NHRC and perhaps Kampanart could also come and talk to the students in order to foster a clear understanding."

Yeah, I'm sure the students would love that.

[BSJ]

These students should be working towards achieving their academic goals and not stirring the pot.

[chainarong]

What the military needs to understand the students have power, if the students organise like they did the last time, you are dead meat and with better communications and knowledge they just might do it again , so listen to what they say and talk to them, to ignore or criticize could be detrimental, Khun Suthep took advantage of the student protests to advance his protest movement against the PTP, the students were on the streets long before he was, history has a habit of repeating , the ending next time it might not be so beneficial to the Military

[Christie Paul]

These kids are going inherit this country.

That is why they are and should be interested in what sort of a place they are going to live in.

They are a hot potato, because they have a clear moral right, regardless of what new fabricated law, regulation or oppressive threat is made against them.

[Artisi]

Thailand's bosses should consider themselves extremely lucky they don't have to compete with free-thinking western students.

[oneday]

Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr said the media should henceforth approach him and not his subordinate Lt-General Kampanart Ruddit, the First Army Region Commander, who had made the allegation.

No, the way this type of thing is normally handled Mr. Military Chief is to instruct your subordinates NOT to talk to the media and telling them to direct all inquires to you. Giving instructions to the media is like pi...s...ng in the wind.

[Denim]

So...........more pork pies from the men in green.

To quote another poster on the original story :

' Why am I not surprised '

[chainarong]

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These students should be working towards achieving their academic goals and not stirring the pot.

When it comes to freedom you make the choice , your want to lay down and take it up the arse attitude, go ahead, after all not everyone wants to be a virgin.

[lildragon]

Some people aren't happy. Why is it always "all they're poor stupid buffaloes, they were paid off!" always branded about? A lot of the poor are very self aware thanks to things like the internet and social media. More so than the old dinosaurs in charge it seems!

[Johnnie99]

Any way you look at it, it is a covert operation.

[Chris Lawrence]

It’s a strange report about nothing? 5 students paid 50,000 baht? They are well known to Niran (so do they have BBQ's on a regular basis: : ). The boss cocky wants everyone to direct questions to him? They get an award for sticking their necks on the line? The 5 have to get permission from the Junta to travel overseas? Ms Y is staying home for Christmas?

Sounds like a Seinfield episode? "a show about nothing"

The real fact is that the Government is extremely concerned about action against the current regime. Denial, denial, denial?

[The manic]

These students should be working towards achieving their academic goals and not stirring the pot.

If they want to stay alive. The Thai army, like the Mexican military have murderous intent toward intellectuals and academics with political viewpoints. In this they have something in common with the Southern Insurgents and even Boko Haram. The suppression of western education and freedom of thoughts.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

These students should be working towards achieving their academic goals and not stirring the pot.

What if they are Political Science majors?

[brucec64]

These students should be working towards achieving their academic goals and not stirring the pot.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

[Acharn]

These students should be working towards achieving their academic goals and not stirring the pot.

I'm thoroughly confused by the sloppy use of language, probably because the writers are not native speakers. I suspect, from reading between the lines and trying to piece statements together, that the students were paid by an "intelligence" agency to try to organize a protest to decoy dissident students into revealing themselves, and things got overly serious without achieving the desired entrapment. If this is indeed the case, then they were actually trying to aid the government and were unjustly punished.

[tbthailand]

These students should be working towards achieving their academic goals and not stirring the pot.

sorry, but just really interested in knowing if you are being serious or sarcastic.

[tbthailand]

regarding travel, ...

those who behave well should have no problem getting the permission.

honestly, if I were one of the 'summoned' and were going to leave the country and not come back, I wouldn't ask permission.