Gambling on Udomdej
Today’s cabinet meeting is likely to make key decisions related to operations to tackle violence in the restive deep South, and the money being spent there. Ministers will be asked to hear and make decisions on yet another roadmap to tackle the southern unrest. Even more controversially, they are likely to be asked to place the management of the entire multi-billionbaht budget supporting government actions in the South in the hands of one interesting man.
Due to become the most powerful man in southern operations is Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, the deputy minister of defence. He was appointed by the government to head a 13-member delegation to steer efforts to bring peace to the violence-stricken far South. His panel met for the first time in October. It won government approval just three months ago to advise on anti-insurgency operations. It was made clear by the prime minister in late September that the special delegation would take an advisory role to state agencies and would have no authority over actions in the deep South. Today, without either local or national consultation, that is about to change.
Some reports suggest the delegation will ask the cabinet to approve its proposal to take over the budget management in the far South. By taking full control of the budgets of all state agencies involved in the restive area, Gen Udomdej will get full control of all operations. If security, financial or even aid agencies want state money to carry out military or civilian operations, they will require Gen Udomdej’s approval. As the saying goes, “He who pays the piper, calls the tune”, and unless the cabinet votes him down today, Gen Udomdej will pay all.
It is wise, therefore, to examine the man who, quite suddenly and with only a few days of notice, is likely to become the most powerful person ever associated with war and peace in the deep South. Gen Udomdej is currently best known throughout the country as the brains and power behind Rajabhakti Park. He was by far the most deeply involved official in the scandal that surrounded construction of the park, which honours seven great kings with huge statues visible for kilometres.
The entire Rajabhakti Park project was under question, and still is. There were important questions of alleged kickbacks, and equally curious allegations of intimidation used to get contractors to “donate” to the project. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said it investigated the project, and Gen Udomdej’s role in it. It cleared both in days, but never issued a report.
Meanwhile, Gen Udomdej won support from the junta, which arrested numerous people who demanded a full investigation into the project. Some were charged with sedition, after they asked for open hearings. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha fully supported his deputy defence minister. Three months ago, he created the committee of old soldiers to look at operations in the deep South. Today, he is scheduled to put Gen Udomdej and his committee in charge of the South, under a new roadmap.
The outline of the “new” deep South policy is known. The keystone is to be an attempt to convince the separatists to respect “safe zones” where all violence will be banned. The government’s peace-table opponents, the Malaysian Mara Patani group, had earlier rejected this proposal.
Once again, the government is embarking on a hugely important new policy. It has refused to hear input from the people of the deep South, where the effects of the roadmap will be felt. Every top-down “solution” in the deep South has failed for decades to bring peace. Gen Prayut should tell the country why he believes that putting all policy and tens of billions of baht in the hands of one Bangkok-based general with such an interesting background will now succeed.
The government is embarking on a hugely important new policy.