Quote:Sonthi plays coup card
BangkokPost.com

Coup leader Sonthi Boonyaratkalin refused to rule out staging another coup d'etat if the People Power party (PPP) loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinwatra wins the election on December 23.

"It is a future matter that we shall have to wait and see," Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi said when he was asked whether a coup will be staged if PPP gets to form a new government.

He also countered PPP leader Samak Sundaravej's statement that the party's victory will mean ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra was right all along, saying that the court is the only one to decide whether Mr Thaksin committed any wrongdoing.

"Laws, not statements of anyone, will tell whether he is right or wrong," Gen Sonthi told reporters.

He also challenged Mr Thaksin to return to Thailand, saying "he can return now so we can prosecute him."

Meanwhile, acting chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) Chalit Phukphasuk said the CNS is not worried if Mr Samak brings back Mr Thaksin's regime if his party wins the election.

Under a democratic system, people will decide what is good for the country, he said.

Gen Chalit, also chief of air force, insisted the CNS and the military will maintain politically neutral and will not get involved in politics in any way.

Officers who are found to have involved in political acts will faced harsh punishment, he added

BKKPost

Quote:Anti-coup group calls on Sonthi to resign


(BangkokPost.com) - Representatives from an anti-coup group, White Dove 2006 called on Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin to resign for allegedly having three registered marriages.


More than 10 members of the group also said that Gen Sonthi, as coup leader, should not oversee the general election as it would have a negative impact on the country's image.


Gen Sonthi, as deputy premier, is assigned to oversee the Dec 23 election to make sure it takes place fairly.


The anti-coup group also said they will reveal publicly his official marriage paper with his second wife in a week and deliver it to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC).

Quote:Army chief tightens his grip
Transfers to counter PPP's rise in popularity

WASSANA NANUAM


Army commander Gen Anupong Paochinda has signed an order to put his men in charge of key battalions in a move to further strengthen his grip on the army. Most of the transfers involve army officers in the northern provinces and some northeastern areas and the latest reshuffle affects 84 lieutenant colonels and colonels. Army sources linked it to growing concern in the army over the popularity of the People Power party (PPP) ahead of the Dec 23 elections.


The two regions are the political bastions of the PPP backed by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Northeast and North also had the most votes against the draft constitution in the Aug 19 referendum.


Their rejection of the draft charter was interpreted as a message against the coup makers from Mr Thaksin.


Mr Thaksin's popularity was underlined by a secret Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) poll showing the PPP was leading the election race.


The latest major transfer of army officers was approved by Gen Anupong on Wednesday and immediately came into force.


It was the second such order in less than two months since Gen Anupong came to power. On Oct 3 he transferred 215 senior officers and put those loyal to him in charge of unit commanders.


Gen Anupong succeeded Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who retired at the end of Sept and is now a deputy prime minister in charge of security.


This latest reshuffle came much earlier than expected. It was supposed to take place after the armed forces' annual parade to pay homage to His Majesty the King early next month, days before the King's birthday on Dec 5.


Army sources interpreted the move as one of deep concern by the army chief over his leadership. He wanted to make sure he has full control of units with questionable loyalty, they said.


The changes also relieved officers loyal to deputy permanent secretary for defence Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr of key duties in the Third Army, which is responsible for the northern region. Some colonels whose loyalty to Gen Anupong was in doubt were also moved to less important posts, according to sources.


''Gen Anupong was unsure about some soldiers' loyalty and they have been transferred so that he can put his men in instead,'' an army source observed. In addition to changes in key positions in the Second and Third armies, some major changes involved officers in the capital, including Lt-Col Pattachai Chintakanont, a close aide to Gen Anupong.


Lt-Col Pattachai, who is a personnel staff officer at the First Army in charge of the central provinces and the capital, was ordered to head the Fourth Cavalry Battalion based in Bangkok. The unit has played a vital role in military coups in the country.


He replaced Lt Col Sanyalak Tungsiri, who was moved to oversee operations for the First Army, despite being at the battalion for one year.


''He is not Gen Anupong's man. So he had to put someone he trusts in this position,'' one source said.


The reshuffle came after an Isoc poll conducted before Gen Sonthi's retirement showed the PPP was leading the race for the Dec 23 elections.

The PPP, led by Samak Sundaravej, would have won about 280 of the 480 seats in the new House, according to the poll. About 240 seats under the PPP banner would come from contests in constituencies nationwide and the rest from the party-list system, it added.

The figures are in line with recent claims by the PPP that it would win 250 seats in parliament. The claims were ridiculed by the PPP's main rival, the Democrats.


The Democrats came second in the Isoc poll with 125 seats, about 25 of them from the party-list contest.


Thailand's oldest political party has predicted it could win 150 seats in the election, but believed the PPP could get a similar number.


According to the Isoc poll, Chart Thai came third with 35 representatives. Next was Puea Pandin, which had 14 seats, Ruam Chai Thai Chart Pattana with 13 representatives, Matchimathipataya with 11 seats and Pracharaj only three.


The poll was ordered by then army chief Gen Sonthi, who assigned Isoc advisor Gen Panlop Pinmanee to undertake the survey, according to sources.


But Gen Panlop, who is close to Gen Sonthi, yesterday denied his agency had conducted the poll, but admitted the PPP's influence remained strong in northern and northeastern provinces.
BKKPost