Udomdej refuses to step down

Udomdej refuses to step down

Abhisit calls for show of accountability

Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr has insisted he will not step down despite mounting pressure on him to quit over the scandal surrounding Rajabhakti Park.

Speaking before Tuesday's cabinet meeting, Gen Udomdej said he would stay on in the cabinet and wait for the results of a probe conducted by a Defence Ministry-appointed committee.

He refused to comment on allegations that the Rajabhakti Park project -- which he initiated while serving as army chief -- lacked transparency and was plagued with irregularities.

"Let's wait for the committee to finish its work," he said.

"During this period, I will continue to work. But I want to make it clear that I have never wanted to cling on to this position for a long time. I will stay on for only as long as necessary," he said.

Gen Udomdej said believed the probe's results would cover all details about the project's funding and expenditure as well as clear up questions that remain unanswered.

A source at the Defence Ministry earlier said Gen Udomdej was awaiting the probe's results before making a decision on whether to step down.

Gen Udomdej showed up for Tuesday's cabinet meeting with his standard security contingent, and spoke briefly to the media. (Post Today photo)

Gen Udomdej, who is also chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation, insisted that the project had been carried out with transparency. The project was closely supervised by a committee whose members had the strong intention of making it a national treasure. 

"I never thought about using the project for self-interest. The use of all donations has been transparent," he said.

He said he also welcomed any further inquiries by other anti-graft bodies such as the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday that a show of accountability over the Rajabhakti Park scandal would help ease the growing pressure on the military government.

He said that the controversy surrounding the Rajabhakti Park project had become a political issue given that cabinet ministers of the military government are holders of political positions. In light of this, they must set a political standard to restore public confidence.

Mr Abhisit said since the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is pushing for reforms, it must set a political standard itself.

"Political responsibility is far more important than legal responsibility. In order to ease political tensions, a decision must be made. Making a political decision does not mean one has admitted to being right or wrong, because this must be judged by the parties concerned," Mr Abhisit said.

In this case, those responsible for judging the controversy include the investigation committee set up by the Defence Ministry, the NACC and the OAG, Mr Abhisit said.

Asked whether it was necessary for "someone" to resign, Mr Abhisit said whatever is necessary to win back public confidence and enable the government and the NCPO to continue to function must be done.

Without naming anyone, Mr Abhisit said if the person responsible for the Rajabhakti Park project resigned, people's suspicions would subside to some extent, but the investigation into any alleged irregularities in the park project must continue.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon warned Tuesday against trying to politicise the Rajabhakti Park issue.

He was referring to the detention on Monday of Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikuar, two leaders of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. The two men were detained by soldiers at Mahachai market in Muang district of Samut Sakhon province on their way to visit Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district.

They were later taken to be held at the 9th Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi.

Both men were released after they signed an agreement stating they would not engage in any political activities.

Gen Prawit insisted the military did not violate human rights or use force against the two red-shirt leaders. However, authorities could have laid charges against them under Section 116 of the Criminal Code for inciting disorder but did not do so, he said. 

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the military had to stop the two red-shirt leaders from visiting Rajabhakti Park to prevent confrontation.

Maj Gen Sansern said Gen Prawit told the cabinet that the red shirts and their followers were travelling through Ratchaburi province to Prachuap Khiri Khan.

There were people holding different views from the red-shirt leaders in both provinces, and the military had to "invite" the two leaders to prevent any confrontation, Maj Gen Sansern said.

Also on Tuesday, Mr Jatuporn said the government succeeded in stopping him from visiting the park, but it failed to clear up any public doubt over alleged irregularities in the park.

He also questioned if the Defence Ministry-appointed probe panel headed by deputy permanent secretary for defence Gen Chaicharn Changmongkol would ever dare to investigate Gen Udomdej, who is their superior.

Speaking after a meeting called to consider whether the NACC has the authority to investigate any alleged graft in the park project, NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak said a preliminary inquiry by the agency found no evidence of corruption in the project.

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