ABOUT Politics
Gen Udomdej is under the gun and may soon resign Rumours plague the government over Rajabhakti, with pressure coming from many sources Transport Minister Arkhom inherited a ministry in a mess, and can’t seem to clean it up
It is only a matter of time
It is a question of when, not whether, Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr steps down from the cabinet in the wake of the Rajabhakti Park scandal. It could be soon, though not soon enough for his critics.
The soft-spoken general, who initiated the Rajabhakti Park project while he was army chief, has been under pressure to resign in a show of ministerial responsibility since the scandal surfaced. So far, he has not faced a single accusation of misconduct in connection with the park project, but people close to him have.
Maj Gen Suchart Prommai, a former close aide identified as a key player in the Rajabhakti Foundation, faces an arrest warrant. Col Khachachart Boondee, also an ex-protege who is linked to the park project and the criminal network of “Mor Yong” — Suriyan Sucharitpolwong who allegedly died from a blood infection last month — is charged with lese majeste.
Moreover, Gen Udomdej has spoken publicly about the demands for kickbacks by an amulet trader from foundry owners contracted to cast the giant statues of past kings for the park.
With these key players on the run, the odds are stacked against Gen Udomdej.
Early this week he insisted he would not quit over the scandal, but stressed he would stay on in the cabinet only as long as necessary. To political observers, the deputy defence minister is keeping the door open for last minute changes.
According to a political source, it is a clear signal Gen Udomdej is on his way out.
“He’s just waiting for his name to be cleared ... that he had nothing to do with any alleged irregularities and he will leave,” said the source.
The Defence Ministry-appointed committee is expected to announce the results of its investigation into the scandal this month. It is expected Gen Udomdej will step down at that time.
The park scandal has come at a most critical time for the interim government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
According to the source, the issue will be increasingly politicised to distract the public from a high-profile court case set to begin next month.
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders has set Jan 15 for the first examination of prosecution witnesses in the trial of ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her alleged gross negligence in handling her government’s rice-pledging scheme.
Ms Yingluck has been charged with dereliction of duty causing damage, under Section 157 of the Criminal Code, and failing to perform her duty as a state official — under the Anti-Corruption Act 1999 — to stop corruption in the rice-pledging scheme. The scheme has reported losses of more than 500 billion baht to the state.
The government has also decided to employ the liability law to pursue financial compensation from those implicated in the rice-pledging scandal instead of suing them. Ms Yingluck is among the targets.
According to the source, several military figures in the NCPO are said to be frustrated over recent developments in the two cases — some government critics seem to be keeping one eye closed when it comes to the damage caused by the rice-pledging scheme, but are screaming for heads to roll in the Rajabhakti Park scandal.
It is widely believed Gen Udomdej’s expected resignation will be a huge relief to the government. However, its critics will need a magic wand to make the rice-pledging scheme case go away.
Opponents are stirring the pot
T hemost vocal critics putting pressure on Deputy Defence Minister Gen Udomdej Sitabutr to resign over the Rajabhakti Park scandal are the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and the Pheu Thai Party.
Adding to the pressure is criticism from some people connected to Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, such as Lt Gen Phisanu Phutthawong, his close aide, and Adm Phajun Tampratheep, a former close aide.
Rubbing salt into the wound, Adm Phajun said that if he was in Gen Udomdej’s shoes, he would step down, even though he might have had nothing to do with the alleged park project irregularities.
This criticism is being floated despite the fact that Gen Udomdej also has close ties to Gen Prem since he served as the 1st Army commander and regularly visited the statesman’s Si Sao Thewes residence, a source said.
When Rajabhakti Park opened to the public, Gen Prem found time to go there and expressed admiration and support for the team responsible for the construction.
Located on army land in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district, the 222-rai park has seven giant statues of renowned former kings.
After accusations of corruption in the park project surfaced, Gen Udomdej had to meet Gen Prem to explain the issue, the source said.
While tackling corruption is one of the top priorities of the military junta, the scandal surrounding Rajabhakti could rebound on the government unless it treads carefully, the source said.
The Rajabhakti controversy had sparked rumours that some soldiers who are in conflict with Gen Udomdej might be plotting a counter-coup against the government and the National Council for Peace and Order.
But the source believed the rumours were only a ruse to exploit the park issue to stir distrust within the army and turn soldiers against each other.
Even Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon believes someone is using the issue in an attempt to incite a quarrel between him and Gen Prayut.
According to the source, rumours suggest some soldiers support Gen Prawit becoming prime minister in the event that political turmoil resurfaces after the general election which is expected in 2017 — the point at which Gen Prayut would have stepped down as prime minister as promised. If that happens, Gen Prawit might be asked to become prime minister to control the situation.
But Gen Prawit dismisses the conjecture, calling it groundless. At 70, Gen Prawit is not in the best of health, and he insists, “I will not be involved in politics. I am too old and tired.”
Gen Prawit gave assurances that the government’s stability and resilience remain solid, like “steel-reinforced concrete”, and praised Prime Minister Prayut as a great steersman.
Should Gen Udomdej bow to pressure over the park issue and quit as deputy defence minister, there is no word about who will replace him, the source said.
However, Gen Prayut has said that a cabinet reshuffle is not on the cards. The prime minister insists he will not rush into a shakeup just because of growing calls for Gen Udomdej to step down.
Trains, planes
and trouble
W illthere be a fourth cabinet reshuffle and, if so, who will be shown the door? These are the questions feeding the imaginations of political pundits right now.
The experts agree a shake-up may be in order before the year is out, but that it could be limited. A reshuffle, if it occurs, would most likely see the axe fall on Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, the deputy defence minister, over the Rajabhakti Park controversy. But murmurings about the former army chief vacating his seat have been around for some time.
Another possible casualty in a reshuffle, though, could spring more than a surprise. The subject of heavy speculation of late is Transport Minister Arkhom Termpitayapaisith, who might exit the cabinet just months after his appointment.
The rumour mill is convinced the speculation is not groundless after the latest downgrade of Thailand’s aviation safety rating by the US Federal Aviation Administration, which has dealt a blow to the country’s reputation. Six months earlier the kingdom was red-flagged by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
The downgrade has upset many, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The Transport Ministry’s misfortune does not stop there. A stalemate has been reached in talks with China over the Sino-Thai railway project. Mr Arkhom said the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the two countries would be shelved pending a new agreement on China’s purchase of Thai rubber, which is included in the package.
But Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, head of the government’s economic team, dismissed the report and confirmed the signing would go ahead, as it did on Thursday.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon also gave his assurance the project will not be postponed, although further negotiations were needed to thrash out some crucial details so that the joint railway development is fair to both countries in terms of the benefits to be shared.
A source said the railway project is not going smoothly. Despite frustration from Gen Prayut over slow progress after nine rounds of meetings, Mr Arkhom put the project under the microscope when handed the ministry’s helm and found certain aspects could be disadvantageous to Thailand.
If the railway project is left as is, it could tilt toward catering excessively to China’s transport sector.
As for the price tag, China’s calculation of the cost of the investment could bloat the value from the original estimate of almost 400 billion baht to around 500 billion baht, in addition to an expensive loan to finance the construction.
The source added that Mr Arkhom, the former secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board, has gone through the content of the project and made some revisions where necessary. So many hours of the day are being spent in straightening out the details that the minister may have been less able to devote his attention to the aviation safety issue.
Mr Arkhom is weathering the storm as he has gained the support of Mr Somkid who has placed his trust in the minister’s knowledge and ability to act responsibly in getting the large-scale project moving, according to the source. When it comes to budgeting, Mr Arkhom is also said to be particularly prudent about spending.
If Mr Arkhom finds himself in the danger zone, the source said, Mr Somkid will likely come knocking on Gen Prayut’s door.