Pongsakorn quits FFP board
Future Forward (FFP) deputy leader Lt Gen Pongsakorn Rodchomphu has resigned from the party’s executive board and said he will move out of his military-owned house by the end of March.
Lt Gen Pongsakorn announced he was quitting on Sunday night in a Facebook post.
Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said yesterday he respected Lt Gen Pongsakorn’s decision to resign following the controversy surrounding him not moving out of military housing after retiring.
The FFP is pushing strongly for military reform, and army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong recently announced that retired officers will have to vacate their military homes to make way for their successors.
Gen Apirat’s announcement came after the Feb 8 mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, the motive for which was believed linked to a shortage of army welfare houses caused by many ex-military people failing to give them up after retirement.
In announcing his resignation, the FFP deputy leader apologised for failing to disclose earlier that he was living in a military house. He said he did not say anything because he was looking to move out.
Although Gen Apirat said retired officers should leave the military houses by the end of the month, Lt Gen Pongsakorn wrote that he would leave by March 31, to coincide with the annual military reshuffle.
Lt Gen Pongsakorn, also wrote he was on an overseas trip and would inform the executive of his decision formally on his return.
Lt Gen Apisit Nuchbusaba, from the Directorate of Joint Civil Affairs at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, said Lt Gen Pongsakorn retired in 2016.
He remained in a house owned by the Armed Forces Security Centre in Bang Khen district and extended his stay on a yearly basis, until this year. Requests for extensions were approved because Lt Gen Pongsakorn did not have a home of his own, Lt Gen Apisit said.
On Saturday Lt Gen Pongsakon admitted during a TV talk programme that he was still in military accommodation four years after having retired and that he planned to move out next year.
He was invited on the programme to give his opinions about criticism of retired military officials currently holding public office — including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha — being allowed to remain in military housing despite the order for other retirees to get out.
As FFP party leader, Mr Thanathorn said in a Facebook post yesterday, he was willing to take the blame for Lt Gen Pongsakon’s mistake and apologised on behalf of the party about what happened.
After all, Mr Thanathorn said, the FFP stood firm on its intention to push military reforms with the ultimate goal to prevent further military coups.
The party started this with a draft law to end mandatory military conscription, which Lt Gen Pongsakorn had a crucial role in drafting, Mr Thanathorn said.