Kokaew slams military at budget meet
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The House committee vetting the military budget yesterday called a 15-minute recess following a Democrat-Pheu Thai spat over the 2010 political violence.
The recess was prompted by the lack of a quorum after the walkout by Democrats protesting Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong’s claim that soldiers had shot and killed unarmed civilians in cold blood at Wat Pathum Wanaram on May 19, 2010.
The Democrats protested after committee chair Apiwan Wiriyachai had refused to remove Kokaew following what they saw as an attempt to turn the committee meeting into a military-bashing session.
Military leaders, led by Defence permanent secretary General Sathian Permthong-in, were giving testimony at the meeting to justify the Bt188-billion military spending plan.
After Sathian outlined the spending plan, committee members took the opportunity to pose questions on a wide range of domestic security issues.
Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong said he wanted to know whether the military had recovered the weapons stolen during the protests involving the red shirts from March to May, 2010.
Watchara also said he would like to gauge the military’s response to a red-shirt leader who vowed at a rally last month to transform Thai democratic rule to be more in line with the Cambodian political system.
Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat said Watchara was referring to Adisorn Piengket.
Nipit called for the Air Force to take action against a community radio station in Pathum Thani, located right next to their air base and broadcasting programmes deemed insulting to the monarchy.
He said Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha should be commended for rebutting the allegation raised by the red shirts in connection with the Wat Pathum Wanaram incident.
Commenting on the incident, Kokaew said there was an unanswered question over military cruelty as evidenced by the deployment of snipers to shoot and kill the victims.
Watchara demanded that Kokaew withdraw his remarks. As the coalition and opposition lawmakers exchanged sharp words, Apiwan intervened, calling on each side to stop blaming the other for the political violence.
Democrat MP Pichase Panvichatikul urged Apiwan to remove Kokaew. When this went unheeded, he called for a quorum count.
During the recess to allow both sides to cool down, Army chief Prayuth said he expected the meeting to carry on to a successful conclusion.
While awaiting the resumption, Kokaew and Watchara continued to air opposing views. Watchara distributed copies of the book he wrote that pins the blame for political strife on the “men in black”.
Kokaew, meanwhile, told reporters that the conspiracy to topple the monarchy was a fabrication made by opponents so as to smear the Pheu Thai Party.
Following the recess, the meeting devoted its attention to scrutinising the military budget, 57 per cent of which is earmarked for salary and administrative costs, 21 per cent for operating costs and 22 per cent for strengthening the capability of the armed forces.
Of the total spending on military capability, 13 per cent will be allocated for instalment payments on past procurement contracts. Only some eight per cent will be available for arms purchases.
