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Published on October 5, 2007

General Toosarat Muang-am, a Ministry chief adviser, replaced the outspoken Bannawit yesterday as deputy permanent secretary.

Bannawit lashed out recently at then Army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin for not appointing General Saprang Kalayanamitr as the new Army commander.

Bannawit said yesterday he was not aware of the decision, but accepted the new post and refused to criticise the sudden transfer.

He denied the transfer had anything to do with his move to launch a motion against the government.

"The military's affairs are about the military and the NLA is a separate matter."

His long-time ally Saprang was "kicked upstairs" to become another deputy permanent secretary of Defence. Bannawit and Saprang both consistently opposed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Defence Minister General Boonrawd Somtas said he had warned Bannawit many times to stop criticising Sonthi and Surayud over the reshuffle - to no avail.

"It is a strong military disciplinary violation and there must be a disciplinary investigation against him. I do not want the military to be further affected.

"This is a defence mechanism to prevent anyone from repeating the mistake. He must be punished even though he is high-ranking."

He said military personnel knew once they were the subject of an inquiry, they could be dismissed or jailed.

"They could be dismissed and go without pension depending on the disciplinary panel,'' he said.

Boonrawd defended Surayud, saying the PM had nothing to do with the transfer, as he had initiated the transfer by himself. "I am confident I have considered things carefully before acting. If I had been afraid of political consequences, I would not have done it."

He said Bannawit would face a probe only over the disciplinary matter and nothing else.

Bannawit denied knowing about the order to set up a disciplinary panel against him for leaking military reshuffle information and another panel to investigate allegations that he extorted bribes.

"I have not sought any interest from my military position and as chairman of NLA's committee on transport, I can only launch investigations but cannot punish anyone,'' he said.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the Defence Ministry submitted the letter to the PM's Office giving the reason for the transfer, but he refused to elaborate. He said although the PM has the right to revoke the transfer order, the Defence Ministry made the decision with support from the Judge Advocate General's Department.

NLA member Squadron Leader Prasong Soonsiri said the transfer of Bannawit was unusual because the ministry now did not have a representative from the Navy as deputy permanent-secretary.

 The Nation