No generals are about to retire, Prayut says
The Nation

Premier dismisses rumour that trio in Cabinet will be stepping down soon

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr denied rumours yesterday that three top military officers would resign because they hold posts in Cabinet.

Over the last few days, there has been speculation that the three officers, who are also ministers, would resign before they are due to retire from the Army.

Prayut said: "I'm the one who has authority to reshuffle the Cabinet and currently, nobody has resigned [as a Cabinet member]."

He said the three were able to work at both posts, as ministers and military officers.

They are: the Justice Minister and Deputy Supreme Commander General Paiboon Koomchaya, Commerce Minister and Deputy Army Chief General Chatchai Sarikulya, and deputy Education Minister and Chief of Staff attached to the Supreme Commander General Surachet Chaiwong.

Prayut stressed that no individuals had reported difficulty in carrying out their duties. The PM went on to reject the possibility of another coup or military reshuffle.

Deputy Defence Minister and Army Chief General Udomdej made similar comments on the issue. He asked media to stop spreading such news reports from this day onwards. He stressed that the National Council for Peace and Order remained firm and committed to following all the steps of its road map, paving the way towards a general election.

Meanwhile, the PM has assigned the Foreign Ministry to explain cases related to lese majeste in foreign countries.

He assigned the Foreign Ministry to keep an eye on fugitives related to lese majeste accusations. He further asked the ministry to carefully explain such cases to official foreign counterparts, requesting more cooperation when it comes to extradition procedures.

The case of Akapop Luara, aka "Tang Acheeva"- who is accused of lese majeste and has been granted New Zealand citizenship - has put pressure on the government.

The Foreign Ministry earlier invited the charge d'affaires of the New Zealand embassy to look into the case of Tang after the fugitive posted a message and his picture holding a New Zealand passport on his Facebook page, saying he was living in New Zealand.

"The right of granting citizenship [in this case] remains under the judgement of New Zealand. Thailand, however, has reserved our rights to inform foreign countries about this case," the PM said, adding that asking for the extradition of anyone accused under the lese majeste laws would not be an easy task.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/No-generals-are-about-to-retire-Prayut-says-30251355.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-07

Coming from a bloke who vowed no coup and he won't be PM .

Is that because they have already submitted their resignations with notice ?

I would have thought with a surfeit of high end brass in the military a large number of them could (should) be given a big push to resign.

Glad they have so much free time from their main jobs.

How does the army manage without them?

I am the one. They use "premier" and prime minister interchangeably now in THailand?

The Foreign Ministry have their hands full trying to explain LM to countries where there have freedom of speech and expression.

And peeing in the wind with Tang and New Zealand, he is now a citizen.

"Thailand, however, has reserved our rights to inform foreign countries about this case," the PM said

55 yeah, well done - reserve your right to talk. well done. i guess its more than your political opponents can do.

I would have thought with a surfeit of high end brass in the military a large number of them could (should) be given a big push to resign.

The Thai military now has more than 1,750 flag officers (generals and admirals), a bloated number for a military of its size. Many of these officers - perhaps most - do not perform duties commensurate with their rank and many literally have no job at all. What they do have, however, is the rank, high salary and status among the rank and file that comes with the position of a flag officer.

In any government which had a reform agenda this ludicrous abuse would be high on the agenda.What is the policy of the current government?

"Thailand, however, has reserved our rights to inform foreign countries about this case."

And when those Ambassadors are "summoned" to be "told" about the cases, they'll politely nod their heads, smile, say nothing much of anything, and continue to laugh at Thailand behind (or indeed sometimes in front) of their backs.

When "Thailand" grows up just a little bit more, they might be taken a little more seriously on the world stage. But then, I guess now they've got a new big "uncle" in the form of China to take care of them (and they're making a BIG assumption that China "won't" be telling them how to run their country), so they probably don't care that much what other countries think any more. That one's gonna come back and bite them in the ass big time however.

I would have thought with a surfeit of high end brass in the military a large number of them could (should) be given a big push to resign.

The Thai military now has more than 1,750 flag officers (generals and admirals), a bloated number for a military of its size. Many of these officers - perhaps most - do not perform duties commensurate with their rank and many literally have no job at all. What they do have, however, is the rank, high salary and status among the rank and file that comes with the position of a flag officer.

In any government which had a reform agenda

this ludicrous abuse would be high on the agenda.What is the policy of the current government?

But without all the generals etc how would they be able to maintain a coup every four years?

That clean out has to be done by the next "real" government with balls to do it, whenever,whomever they may be.

No doubt General Prayuth would rather see his entire administration staffed with flag officers - certainly more than enough to fill all the positions. It would be like the Fifth Army Corp. And all would be getting double pay!

Coming from a bloke who vowed no coup and he won't be PM .

They will go to made way for his closely connected generals from the Burapha Phayak clique. Didn't this croony appointment brought down the previous government? Different time different stroke.

............................and that is an order !!