POLITICS
PRADIT RUANGDIT & WASSANA NANUAM
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has endorsed an order setting up a disciplinary inquiry into chief adviser to the Supreme Command Gen Pathompong Kesornsuk for speaking at the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally this week. The endorsement from Mr Samak, who is also defence minister, came on Thursday, deputy government spokesman Natthawut Saikua said yesterday.
The panel was proposed by Gen Udomchai Ongkhasingh, secretary to the Defence Ministry.
Gen Pathompong, wearing a military uniform, addressed the PAD rally for about 40 minutes on July 8.
He attacked the government over the Preah Vihear temple issue and invited fellow military officers to join the PAD.
Mr Natthawut said Gen Pathompong's action tarnished the image and neutral stance of the armed forces.
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| Gen Pathompong Kesornsuk, chief adviser to the Supreme Command, speaks to People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters on Tuesday. The general showed up again at the PAD rally yesterday and addressed the crowd despite an order by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, also the defence minister, to set up a disciplinary panel to investigate him for appearing on the anti-government stage. |
The panel will decide if the general's action violated the constitution, any military traditions or ministry regulations.
Despite the inquiry, Gen Pathompong again showed up on the PAD's stage yesterday to deliver a brief speech.
Preecha Watcharapai, secretary-general of the Civil Service Commission, said civil servants were allowed to air political views but their opinions must be based on facts and academic principles.
The civil servants' code of conduct prohibits government officials from giving interviews or making critical remarks that compromise their political neutrality, he added.
He cited the 1956 cabinet resolution which prohibits government officials from wearing uniforms to the offices of political parties or donning uniforms of political parties in government offices.
He declined to comment if civil servants could show up on the PAD stage. He said it must first be defined if the PAD was a political group or not.
Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit said the maximum disciplinary punishment for a general with seniority equivalent to that of a field marshal, as is the case with Gen Pathompong, was only a warning.
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