Thai defence minister not concerned over impeachment, censure debate

BANGKOK, November 9 (TNA) - Thai Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat confirmed on Friday that he is not concerned over an impeachment bid against him filed by the opposition side and he is also ready to cope with a censure debate, especially on his dismissal of opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva from the military service. Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol insisted that he has no worries over the impeachment attempt against him, as he has done nothing wrong, acknowledging that he has signed an order to dismiss the opposition Democrat Party leader from the military service, as a lecturer of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, in 1988 after a committee of his ministry found that Abhisit had used a fake conscription document to apply for the military service at the academy. The defence minister, however, denied he has ordered Abhisit to be stripped of his sub-lieutenant rank, as the rank removal requires a royal command. The defence minister also made a comment if Abhisit brought the issue to the court, it would be a good opportunity to examine it, saying if Abhisit is not the leader of the Democrat Party or the opposition, he should have been prosecuted long ago. Abhisit, a former Thai prime minister, has announced that he will ask the Administrative Court to revoke the Defence Ministry's order, alleging that the order was politically motivated as his opponents wanted to exclude him from Thai politics. The opposition side on Thursday filed an impeachment petition against Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the defence minister and Deputy Interior Minister Police Lieutenant General Chatt Kuladilok with Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich, alleging that they have been involved in corruption and committed legal offences. Meanwhile, the opposition side is scheduled to also file a censure motion with the House Speaker against certain Cabinet members this afternoon. (TNA)