General Udomdej says he will carry on with his work as usual

[webfact]

VIDEO: General Udomdej says he will carry on with his work as usual



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Seetabutr said this morning that he would carry on with his work as usual despite the increasing pressure for him to call it quits over the Rajabhakti park scandal.

The former army chief who is also chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation insisted on his innocence and the way he has handled the project in transparency. He said he would wait until the fact-finding committee has come up with its findings into the park project.

The deputy defence minister said he didn’t feel heavy-hearted with some of the remarks made by his successor, Army Commander-in-Chief General Theerachai Nakvanich, that the alleged kickback issue had nothing to do with the army and that reporters should ask General Udomdej about it.

The Rajabhakti park was his last project before his retirement and he intended to have the project completed so that the people would have something spiritually to hold on to, he said.

General Udomdej complained that there were people misunderstood the army and wanted to paint the army in a negative light. However, he thanked people who still have trust in the army and holidaymakers who continue to visit the park.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/video-general-udomdej-says-he-will-carry-on-with-his-work-as-usual


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-01

[WhizBang]

This guy is toast, he just does not understand yet. I am sure Prayut will explain it to him.

[MZurf]

This guy is toast, he just does not understand yet. I am sure Prayut will explain it to him.

I'm not sure the two toasts communicate well...

[dageurreotype]

so that the people would have something spiritually to hold on to

In lieu of what, do you think?

[rkidlad]

Why should this guy quit? He's in the army. He's beyond reproach.

Different government - same lies.

[smutcakes]

If this was a regular civilian with associates being charged for LM, this army General would already be locked up on LM charges and probably not heard of for a long time.

Expect a lot of squirming, scheming, half truths and outright lies over the next few weeks as everyone tries to cover their assess/protect their patch.

[harada]

C'mon General it's the land of smiles.

[sharecropper]

Hypocrites.

[Orac]

If this was a regular civilian with associates being charged for LM, this army General would already be locked up on LM charges and probably not heard of for a long time.

Expect a lot of squirming, scheming, half truths and outright lies over the next few weeks as everyone tries to cover their assess/protect their patch.

If they had dealt with this properly to start with they might have been able to nip it in the bud but, with all the denials and heavy handedness they have dug such a big hole that one general falling in his sword might not be enough - isn't the PMs brother also on the committee managing this whole fiasco???

[smutcakes]

If this was a regular civilian with associates being charged for LM, this army General would already be locked up on LM charges and probably not heard of for a long time.

Expect a lot of squirming, scheming, half truths and outright lies over the next few weeks as everyone tries to cover their assess/protect their patch.

If they had dealt with this properly to start with they might have been able to nip it in the bud but, with all the denials and heavy handedness they have dug such a big hole that one general falling in his sword might not be enough - isn't the PMs brother also on the committee managing this whole fiasco???

Yes he is, and the army is under the Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit, who is probably the most powerful and driving force in everything, including Prayut.

[Eric Loh]

The Burapa Phayak fraternity is tight and will protect their own kind. Really shameless loyalty which is curse to Thailand. Someone ought to break this fraternity and appoint others based on meritocracy rather than affiliation.

[asdecas]

NY Times front page article on the condition of Thailand self-censored by its Thai printers today. A sad state of affairs, however it can be found online: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/world/asia/thailand-economy-tourism.html?_r=0

[waldroj]

He may as well stay at his job. He can always argue the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

While he deserves to be treated accordingly, it is unfortunate that the same privileged is being denied to more and more Thais.

There should be no double standards in the eyes of the law, but it seems the junta choose to put their own interpretation on this.

[bangon04]

He may as well stay at his job. He can always argue the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

While he deserves to be treated accordingly, it is unfortunate that the same privileged is being denied to more and more Thais.

There should be no double standards in the eyes of the law, but it seems the junta choose to put their own interpretation on this.

"General Udomdej says he will carry on with his work as usual"

so I suppose the question should be... will anyone be able to tell the difference?

[fred Kubasa]

As Deputy Defence leader and there is nothing/nobody to defend against I

wonder what "carrying on with my job " refers to ?

Edited December 1, 2015 by fred Kubasa

[webfact]

RAJABHAKTI PARK SCANDAL
Defiant Udomdej vows to stay on
THE NATION


Rajabhakti Park

ABHISIT URGES PERSON AT CENTRE OF PARK SCANDAL TO STEP DOWN

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr remained defiant yesterday amid growing pressure over the Rajabhakti Park scandal, making it clear that he would stay on while the investigation into the scandal goes on.

"I shall carry out my duties as usual," Udomdej said. "I believe in our good intention."

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, suggested that the person at the centre of the scandal should step down to relieve pressure on the government that has yet to complete its grand mission for the country. Installed by the National Council for Peace and Order, the government has vowed to reform the country for the better and fought against corruption.

"If the scandal drags on, politicking will increase and spiral further. Overall, such things may not bode well for the government and the public," Abhisit said when asked about the Rajabhakti Park project.

The former prime minister pointed out that during his government, two Cabinet members had resigned to show political responsibility. "It's a way to boost public confidence in the government's political standards," he said.

Funded mainly by about Bt1 billion in donations, the Rajabhakti Park project developed a grand park in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district and erected huge statues of seven former Thai kings under the Army's supervision. The park is built on Army land.

Udomdej, who left the helm of the Army two months ago, chairs the Rajabhakti Park Foundation.

Ensnared in the scandal, Udomdej last month publicly admitted that demands for illicit kickbacks were detected during the implementation of the project but insisted that the problem had already been tackled.

He had kept his silence about the scandal until yesterday.

"My heart is not heavy because I know we do good things," Udomdej said yesterday. He hinted that some ill-intentioned people might have tried to fan the scandal for their benefits. "If they are successful in painting the white black, the country is in danger. I am not going to identify them by name. You can see for yourself who have jumped on the scene lately," he said.

Two red-shirt leaders, Jatuporn Promphan and Nuttuwut Saikuar, were detained on Monday while they were on their way to the Rajabhakti Park. They have since been released. The Pheu Thai Party yesterday said in its latest statement that government figures were trying to portray the Rajabhakti Park project as a political issue, while in fact it was about corruption. It also said that top officials initially did not mention that the project also used state budget.

Udomdej said he expected the ongoing probe by the Defence Ministry to dig deep into the Rajabhakti Park scandal and clear any lingering doubts.

"I hope the probe will go into the details so that the Defence Ministry can clarify everything to the people," Udomdej said, adding he will not intervene in the probe. He said he would also welcome investigations by the Office of the Auditor-General and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljieak separately said his agency's intelligence bureau had already gathered information on the scandal but found no clear evidence that the Rajabhakti Park project was mired in corruption.

Regarding the auditor-general's revelation that the project had used Bt63 million from state coffers, Sansern said the Office had already been looking into whether the project had used the granted budget properly. Even in the face of this scandal, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsu-wan said the government remained strong and stable.

"We can be compared to multi-reinforced concrete," he said, adding there would be no Cabinet reshuffle.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Defiant-Udomdej-vows-to-stay-on-30274147.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-02

[NongKhaiKid]

A variation on the old Teacher dictum,

Rule 1 : In LoS certain people are always right,

Rule 2 : If certain people are wrong refer to Rule 1.

[jaidam]

He has a magnificent Charlton sweep.

[z42]

I wonder who he thinks he's fooling.. I look forward to the inevitable loss of face / another Prayuth tantrum when the press refuse to let this story die. The only satisfaction is seeing these people squirm because they NEVER have been subjected to it in their privileged pasts.

If he was a man of honour, he would heed the advice of Abhisit, who incidentally is bang on the money for mine. A very good fit for PM, just a shame he keeps such bad company

[MaxLee]

He knows he's untouchable and protected by article number not to be named

[klauskunkel]

can't say anything cynical, so I just say that his dimples distract from his comb-over

[JoePai]

An honourable person would step down

[Eric Loh]

Any chance this General be charge for negligence on graft and stemming corruption under his very nose? The NACC is very good at pressing dereliction of duty charges and sure they will pick up this case or maybe not.

[tonypace02]

Come on. What's happened to your memory? About 6 weeks ago the outgoing BKK Chief of Police made it quite clear that he and other generals are not subject to the law.

[MobileContent]

Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr has to stay on.

Udomdej might plot at a later time against the current regime.

[BoristheBlade]

Two men recently died or were murdered ( one a top police officer) for aledgely comitting Les Majest over the Ride for Dad event, if that's the case.....Is General Udomdej not also guilty of the same if the allegations were to be true?

[Baerboxer]

"The Pheu Thai Party yesterday said in its latest statement that government figures were trying to portray the Rajabhakti Park project as a political issue, while in fact it was about corruption. It also said that top officials initially did not mention that the project also used state budget."

But of course all the corruption cases against their owner and his family clan members were political issues and not criminal corruption ones. The Kungthai Bank case for example - other defendants found guilty of corruption and sentenced, whilst Thaksin the fugitive, maintains it's all political in his case.

And of course, it was fine for Thaksin to use state budget to make low interest loan to Myanmar so they could spend it with his family firm.

PTP - the party you can trust 555.

[Baerboxer]

Why should this guy quit? He's in the army. He's beyond reproach.

Different government - same lies.

The facts should be established first. Certainly trial by social media or based on comments from known proven liars shouldn't force anyone to quit.

However, facts, truth, justice, honor and ethics are just meaningless concepts in Thailand.

[Ulic]

An honourable person would step down

It takes a big man to admit when he has made a mistake............I am not a big man.

[mrrizzla]

That NY times article....that's the first I've heard of LM detainees dying in custody....must of been covered up here in Thailand then.