Officer Sunisa still follows the TV lure

"I can confirm I will not resign my Army commission," Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakkawat said.

Sunisa first stepped into the limelight soon after the September 2006 coup when she flew to London to interview ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. She later published a book "Thaksin: Where are you?".

She again grabbed publicity following the Monday launch of DTV by hinting she was planning her talk show, "Democracy Classroom", designed to advance the political system.

Her planned involvement with DTV solicited strong opposition from her Army superiors who reminded her of the military discipline to maintain a non-partisan stand.

Army secretary Maj General Wiran Chanthasartkosol summoned her to explain her position.

After giving her statement to Wiran, she said she had applied for the Army's permission to host her show which would be scheduled outside her office hours. She added she would not make another move before her superiors replied.

Sunisa said she was optimistic she would be allowed to proceed with the show which is an educational programme to raise awareness on democracy.

Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda denied the Army had harassed Sunisa for her TV plans.

 "If I say anything (about the issue) it could sound like intimidation of a subordinate, but we cannot ignore enforcing regulations in supervising subordinates,'' he said.

He said that he had been informed that Sunisa wished to resign from the Army to pursue her personal interests.

Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the Army opposed Sunisa's resignation as the investigation against her had yet to be completed.

[However] "Being a Defence Ministry official, she is not allowed to criticise the government. If she wants to pursue her dream, she must resign,'' Sansern said.