ISOC: Peace by any means necessary?-Bangkok Post

[FACT comments: And speaking of dangerous nutjobs, back to Thailand! The general is not a man respected for reconcilation but feared for armed responce. Naturally, he has been picked to head Thailand's internal security command, a place which can ensure divisions in Thai society, whether on the streets of Bangkok or in Patani, will never reach a peaceful solution. If the general is, as he describes himself, a keeper of many "dangerous secrets", we must ask why Thai government is all about secrets and not about freedom, openness, accountability and transparency.]

Maverick general intends to end chaos
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post: November 19, 2008

http://www.bangkokpost.com/191108_News/19Nov2008_news24.php

The sudden about-turn by General Panlop Pinmanee, former deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), raises the possibility of a deadly tactic being openly employed in Thailand’s protracted political conflict – the “frenemy”.

Up until recently, Gen Panlop had left no room for doubt as to where he stood in this political division. He was unequivocal about his friendship with the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) through his classmate Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang.

As for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Gen Panlop was known to be on the top of Thaksin’s list of arch enemies. At one point, the retired general was suspected of being behind the alleged attempt to assassinate Thaksin by a car bomb in 2006.

Gen Panlop’s meeting with Thaksin in Beijing on Nov 7 and the apparent defection is a devious tactic. By turning one of the PAD’s men to his camp, Thaksin not only erodes the PAD’s strength but also sows the seeds of fear and paranoia among his enemies in the same stroke, because Gen Panlop is a holder of many sensitive “secrets”.

It is believed that Gen Panlop knows who is the real mastermind behind the assassination attempt and the Sept 19, 2006 coup – information which Thaksin needs as badly as his enemies want to keep it from him.

Thaksin chose to act at an opportune time when Gen Panlop was reportedly at odds with his friend in the PAD, Maj-Gen Chamlong.

Gen Panlop had publicly announced that he was willing to step in as a second-generation leader of the PAD if Maj-Gen Chamlong was imprisoned, but his offer was rejected. He was only allowed in as an adviser.

The move put some distance between the two generals and close friends. Gen Panlop said he washed his hands of the PAD and blamed Gen Chamlong for the situation leading to the tear-gas crackdown by police on Oct 7.

Although Gen Panlop claimed he went to meet the deposed PM because he needed to know whether Thaksin was loyal to the institution of the monarchy and to sound out what his take was on the ongoing political conflict, his unexpected about-face is naturally looked upon with suspicion.

“Thaksin treated me with honour,” Gen Panlop said. “He was waiting there when I arrived. He let me sit along with him in the car. We cleared everything up, even the car bomb and came to an agreement that it was a misunderstanding.”

Speculation is rife about the price of loyalty.

“Only 10 million? If I were to accept money, it would not be such a small sum. However, people who know me would know that money can’t buy a man like myself,” Gen Panlop retorted.

He insists that he has volunteered his service for this “final battle” of his life solely for the sake of the country.

“I knew what I would have to face with this decision. I have to take the pain,” he said.

“Earlier, I thought of retiring. I am old, already 72. But I see how chaotic our home has become, how there seems to be no exit. It is a challenge and that’s why I want to help. That’s my motive. People can reproach me. They may misjudge me. But one day, they will understand.”

Gen Panlop added that he plans to retire at the age of 75. He hopes the country would be put back in order by that time.

He also said that even though it may appear otherwise, his latest move did not mean that he had defected to Thaksin’s camp. He has not chosen sides and he has never been one among the PAD, either. This, therefore, was definitely not a double treachery, he said. Neither had he been sent by Maj-Gen Chamlong to infiltrate the Thaksin camp, Gen Panlop said.

“The friendship won’t disappear but it may be time for us to go our own way and follow our own beliefs. As Chamlong has chosen his path, we just have to part ways.”

Gen Panlop’s friendship with Maj-Gen Chamlong goes all the way back to their student days in the military cadet school. Gen Panlop said Maj-Gen Chamlong asked him to join in the protest against Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon in May 1992.

“I owed a debt of gratitude to Phi Su [Gen Suchinda] because he was the one who promoted me to the rank of major-general. But I had to stand by my friend. And I chose to stay on Chamlong’s side,” Gen Panlop recalled.

When Maj-Gen Chamlong joined the anti-Thaksin protest before the September 2006 military coup, Gen Panlop despatched security guards to protect Maj-Gen Chamlong. His friendly gesture annoyed then PM Thaksin, eventually leading to his becoming a suspect in the car bomb case.

That was the past. Today, the PAD security apparatus is revamping its detail to cope with the possibility of Gen Panlop moving against it.

The PAD’s rejection of Gen Panlop’s offer to join its leadership may be a factor. “They did not give me any recognition,” Gen Panlop said. “They have no idea when or where their protest will end. Their ‘New Politics’ can only be born of a coup d’etat as it is impossible under parliamentary democracy. It has come to the point where I believe I can’t stay still any more.”

After the rendezvous in Beijing, both Thaksin and Gen Panlop seemed to agree that the “frenemies” scheme might work best by turning Gen Panlop against Maj-Gen Chamlong and causing bad blood among their Class 7 members.

It is believed that Thaksin pressed his brother-in-law PM Somchai Wongsawat to find a seat for Gen Panlop in the revamped Isoc, so that the general can move forward with his plan to “re-establish order”.

Under the new Isoc structure, however, there can be only one deputy director – and he is the Army C-in-C, General Anupong Paojinda. As for the post of assistant director, the security law stipulates that the occupant of the position must be a government official. As Gen Panlop is a retired officer, he must be made an adviser to the prime minister before he can be appointed to the position.

Gen Panlop has been a hawk throughout his military career. If he had his way, it is believed he would first seek to negotiate with the PAD to leave Government House. If the talks failed, he would seek power under Section 15 of the Security Act to designate Government House a “security zone”. Gen Panlop would then be given responsibility over the area and have complete control over how to manage it.

“My plan remains a secret. I have my own way. There won’t be bloodshed or losses,” Gen Panlop said.

That Thaksin has singled out Gen Panlop – a Special Force veteran who has made no secret about his aggressive, take-no-prisoners strategy e.g. the attack on militants holed up in the Krue Se mosque in 2004 – may reflect a shift into high gear in Thaksin’s counter-attack manoeuvres.

With Gen Panlop also comes army specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawadipol, the combative cavalry officer who has consistently been against the PAD.

As for probably the most lethal weapon Gen Panlop is believed to be carrying with him – all the secrets behind the alleged plan to assassinate Thakin while he was in power – the general declined to comment.

At present, Thaksin seems to be making good on his promise to launch an all-out fight against his enemies and to reveal their names in his next phone-in scheduled for Dec 14.

Until then, both sides will have to keep a meticulous count of their friends and enemies.