Army chief plays down claim about students

Trying to play down the unsubstantiated allegation that five Khon Kaen University students were paid to protest against Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr said the media should henceforth approach him and not his subordinate Lt-General Kampanart Ruddit, the First Army Region Commander, who had made the allegation.
Kampanart alleged on Monday that the five students were paid Bt50,000 by a local politician, only to clarify a day later that the information was mere intelligence gathering.
“I request that this issue not be blown up,” Udomdej said. “From now on, if there’s any issue, do not ask the First Army Region Commander, as I am the superior of the First Army Region Commander and I will answer it myself.
“We have no intention to violate anything but as things have occurred, we will have to search for information and whatever was said must be clearly scrutinised further. I hope everyone understands and does not make it a big deal in future. Those who have been affected want clarification, and the Army is willing to listen and exchange information to verify whether what was said was accurate or not.”
The Army chief’s remarks came as students from the Dao Din group, who staged the three-finger salute in front of Prayut in Khon Kaen province last month, visited the National Human Rights Commission in Bangkok yesterday to insist on their innocence.
NHRC commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara met with the students and said he could assure the public that they had been engaged in altruistic activism for years and were not linked to any political group, as he knows them quite well.
Niran also said he had called Kampanart to discuss the matter and Kampanart had assured him that he did not believe in the intelligence information about the students and denied making any allegation against the student group.
Niran added that on December 12, the student group would be given a Human Rights Award in the youth category by the NHRC and perhaps Kampanart could also come and talk to the students in order to foster a clear understanding.
In a related development, the Army chief was asked by reporters yesterday if any of the politicians summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had sought permission to travel abroad during New Year. Those who have been summoned had to sign an agreement, which included a stipulation that they would need to seek permission from the junta if they wished to travel abroad.
Former PM Yingluck Shinawatra’s name was mentioned by a reporter in relation to the question. Udomdej said those who behave well should have no problem getting the permission.
“When the request [for permission] is made, the NCPO will consider the suitability. If these people behave well and orderly within the limits I would understand,” said Udomdej, who added that he had not seen Yingluck’s name on the request list yet.
On the possibility of lifting martial law in some tourist areas for New Year’s, the Army chief said it would depend on the assessment of the situation.