Flashermac Posted May 8, 2010 Report Share Posted May 8, 2010 Bangkok Post 8 Apr 2010 Pro-red shirt Khattiya Sawasdipol, widely known as Seh Daeng, faces the prospect of being sacked from the army after a Defence Ministry panel found him guilty in "military criminal cases". He may become the army's first major general to be stripped of his rank. [color:red]The committee, set up by the Defence Ministry in January to probe military criminal allegations against Maj Gen Khattiya, concluded he had repeatedly defied orders from his superiors to not get involved in political movements, particularly with the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said an army source.[/color] Along with that conclusion, the panel also recommended Maj Gen Khattiya be dismissed from the army and stripped of his rank, said the same source. To strip Maj Gen Khattiya of his rank, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon would have to approve it and forward the case to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. If Mr Abhisit has no objection, he would have to seek royal approval for Maj Gen Khattiya's dismissal. The panel was set up to re-investigate Maj Gen Khattiya's alleged misconduct after the Royal Thai Army's committee previously found him guilty, suspended him from work, and recommended he face criminal charges in a military court. Maj Gen Khattiya's salary has also been suspended since Jan 4, after he was found to have offended and insulted army chief Anupong Paojinda by saying the general was nhom nam [childish and weak] since he allowed People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul to verbally attack him several times without responding. Maj Gen Khattiya also publicly accused Gen Anupong of leaning toward the Democrat Party and lobbying coalition politicians to let the party lead the government. Maj Gen Khattiya has travelled abroad to meet ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, once in Cambodia and again in Dubai, without informing his superiors as required by miliary regulations. He led a group of about 200 former military rangers to work as security guards for the UDD. He now acts openly as the leader of the UDD's security team at the Ratchaprasong rally site. The source said Maj Gen Khattiya is also suspected by the government of being involved with unknown armed men dressed in black that the government said attacked soldiers with grenades during the April 10 bloody clashes between security forces and red shirt protesters. After he was suspended, the Defence Ministry and Royal Thai Army Headquarters were attacked with the same type of grenades, said the source. Maj Gen Khattiya said he had no idea why the army wanted to fire him while the allegations against him were waiting to be heard by a military court. "What have I done wrong? I've protected the army chief from being verbally attacked by the yellow shirts and now I am protecting the lives of innocent people [red shirt protesters]," he said. He said it was unfair for both Gen Prawit and Gen Anupong to decide to punish him without waiting for the judicial process to be completed. "No, I don't feel sorry at all ... they can fire me while the judicial process is still pending," he said. "Then I will be able to work full time to help the red shirts." Rink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizardKing Posted May 8, 2010 Report Share Posted May 8, 2010 The mind boggles... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted May 8, 2010 Report Share Posted May 8, 2010 NEVER! At most he will be moved to an inactive post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted May 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2010 He expects that if Puea Thai get in they will restore him and promote him to field marshal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted May 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 Khattiya gets his marching orders 11 May 2010 Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has recommended the dismissal of outspoken officer Khattiya Sawasdipol from duty as an army "specialist", an army source says. Gen Prawit signed Maj Gen Khattiya's dismissal papers on Sunday and has forwarded the documents to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the source said yesterday. The prime minister has to leave the decision in the hands of His Majesty the King. It remains unclear as to whether Mr Abhisit has forwarded the papers. Under the process, the dismissal of senior army officers from the ranks of major general and above needs endorsement by His Majesty the King. The dismissal of officers from colonels down can be decided by the defence minister. It also remained unclear whether Maj Gen Khattiya will be stripped of his rank. The defence minister has been reluctant to strip his rank and the panel of the Defence Ministry has recommended to the minister in the probe that he would only be axed from the job. The panel was set up in January to look into allegations that he defied orders from his superiors. But army chief Anupong Paojinda indicated that Maj Gen Khattiya could be stripped of his rank too in a regular briefing on the situation by the army yesterday. The source said Gen Anupong told his subordinates at the meeting that Maj Gen Khattiya should prepare to now be referred to as Mr Khattiya. The decision by Gen Prawit came after the prime minister on Sunday linked him to allegedly plotting moves to derail the government's reconciliation efforts. [color:red]"One person who is openly against the reconciliation plan is Seh Daeng [Maj Gen Khattiya]," Mr Abhisit said during his weekly broadcast on Sunday.[/color] [color:red]"Seh Daeng has clearly said so and he has sought coordination from those regional [red shirt] leaders to oppose the key leaders in Bangkok."[/color] The source said the statement by the prime minister was a message sent to Gen Prawit to take immediate action on him. Maj Gen Khattiya could not be reached for comment on this issue. Arrest warrants have also been issued for Maj Gen Khattiya and other UDD leaders relating to terrorism charges and violations of the emergency situation act. [color:red]Maj Gen Khattiya said he will not surrender to answer the charges. He said if the red shirt protesters end their protest, he may go into hiding somewhere in the country. He said he believed the government will look for him after the red shirts disperse. Maj Gen Khattiya said the other UDD leaders and the government had reached a compromise so that the UDD leaders, except him, would be granted bail. [/color] Rink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorldFun Posted May 11, 2010 Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 Nice another killer who supposedly walks albeit loosing an attractive job/rank along the way Any bets whether the king will endorse it (in a heartbeat)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizardKing Posted May 11, 2010 Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 What is it with red shirt leaders and MickeyD's? BTW, Seh Daeng just told red shirts not to disperse, that a leadership change coming. He will speak from Rachaprasong stage later tonite. Predicts victory. Calls the current red leaders corrupt. Just great... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorldFun Posted May 11, 2010 Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 so takky back later tonight & mcd party can begin in earnest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaronTT Posted May 11, 2010 Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 Source? I haven't been able to find that from the usual places.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizardKing Posted May 11, 2010 Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 Source? I haven't been able to find that from the usual places.... From his speech on the red radio this morning... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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