Lieutenant Sunisa Causes A Stir

Been there, heard that. Or you don’t remember Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakawat, a low-ranking officer who again causes quite a stir within the Thai army? That ambassador of Thaksin? That’s right, now you remember her name.

The lieutenant is the author of the book “Thaksin Where Are You?” – a book about an interview in London, or better: an amateur writer’s relentless search for her banished idol. As an army officer! But she didn’t get intimidated by any uniform.

Her book and the book “Lydia Here I Am” written by R&B queen Sarunrat “Lydia” Visutthithada kept the former prime minister in the limelight in late 2007 – read our story from back then, Thaksin’s Public Lover(s). Now Lieutenant “Awol” is in trouble again:

Thaksin’s older of his two young female ambassadors joined controversial Democracy Television DTV, the new TV channel of the reds respectively opposition. Now she faces punishment for violating military discipline. The soldier-writer-host already met her superior and explained it all.

According to herself, she wanted to promote democracy and had no intention of criticizing the government or the army after joining the pro-United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship’s (UDD) television station.

Lieutenant Sunisa had earlier stated that the program is meant to promote understanding of democracy, and not to attack the army or the government.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd though was quoted as saying that if the lieutenant “wants her dream job, she will have to quit the military.” The army would not oppose the move.

National army chief Anupong Paojinda joined in by saying the army did not mistreat her but had to proceed in accordance with the law. Sunisa’s appointed superior shall handle the matter.

The case had to be taken care of appropriately as it is not negligible, said Anupong … But do I remember correctly. Didn’t she already request to resign from the army back then to take care of personal business – and they didn’t let her go?

Will she now face punishment for violating military discipline?

Army spokesman Sansern insisted that the military’s disciplinary code did not allow military officers to criticize the government.

If so, army chief Anupong Paojinda must be punished first as he heavily criticized the previous government, said Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan according to The Nation.

Round MDCCXII in Thailand’s main soap opera called politics.

So far the soldier-host denied having resigned from the army. DTV is an extra job, she says. She insists she will not resign from the military service as her role as a soldier and a media representative will help serve the country and public interest, reports TOC - and goes on:

“The lieutenant reiterated that she will not be used as a political tool by the certain group of people.”

Love or hate Thaksin, but they hardly come more power woman than that, Thai women.





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January 20, 2009 | Filed Under Politics, The Thai Mind 

Comments

One Response to “Lieutenant Sunisa Causes A Stir”

  1. BangkokDan on January 22nd, 2009 10.11 am

    Here’s a noteworthy updater by the Bangkok Post – and I quote:

    Back to the matter of female soldiers: at present they account for 25% of military personnel both at the Defence Ministry and the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Almost all of them have non-combat duties.

    One common characteristic among female officers which does not escape notice is that many of them are good-looking.

    A source in the army said that since female officers are often assigned administrative or secretariat jobs in which they have to meet a lot of people, their appearance must be taken into account.

    These “administrative jobs” include serving as receptionists or carrying trays for high-level commanders at ceremonies.

    Female officers with a good command of English are assigned to work as translators or interpreters for their superiors or to serve as emcees at functions held by the military.

    For many, the pinnacle of a female officer’s career is to be a news anchor at the army-controlled TV Channel 5, a job which almost certainly brings instant recognition. But to get there, they need not only the ability to do the job but also all kinds of support – the right connections and support from higher-ups.

    BangkokDan

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