Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has recommended the dismissal of outspoken officer Khattiya Sawasdipol from duty as an army specialist, an army source says.
Maj Gen Khattiya: Faces dismissal
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.
"One person who is openly against the reconciliation plan is Seh Daeng [Maj Gen Khattiya]," Mr Abhisit said during his weekly broadcast on Sunday.
"Seh Daeng has clearly said so and he has sought coordination from those regional [red shirt] leaders to oppose the key leaders in Bangkok."
The source said the statement by the prime minister was a message sent to Gen Prawit to take immediate action on the army specialist.
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.
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
From : Bangkok Post
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