The General is angry

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha had strong words for a Pheu Thai candidate who he believes obstructed soldiers in a drug raid.

"Who are you? How dare you intimidate our officers? If three soldiers encounter a problem in their community, I will send 50 soldiers," said Gen Prayuth yesterday, after hearing that a Puea Thai candidate and his aides obstructed troops on a drug raid. FILE PHOTO

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Army chief vents fury at ex-MP

Pheu Thai candidate accused of foul play

POST REPORTERS

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has vented his ire over an alleged attempt by a Pheu Thai election candidate to obstruct a drug raid in Bangkok, saying he will flood the area with troops to assist the government in its drive.

An army spokesman accused Pheu Thai candidate and former MP Pairoj Isarasereepong and his aides of intimidating three military members of the government's Task Force 315 anti-drug unit in a search at Sap Charoen estate in Nong Chok district on May 23.

"Who are you? How dare you intimidate our officers? I won't allow them to do so. If three soldiers encountered such a problem in their community, I will send 50 soldiers," said Gen Prayuth.

"Let's see if they dare to surround our soldiers again. If 50 soldiers can't stop them, then I will send 100 soldiers there. We'll use this approach."

Gen Prayuth expressed his anger after learning about the incident and that Mr Pairoj had filed defamation complaints against army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd for discussing his role with the media.

The 315 task force, consisting of police, military and civilian members, has been set up recently under the Democrat-led government's campaign against drugs in Bangkok and a further five adjoining provinces.

Police from Rat Burana police station and naval officers set up a checkpoint on Tuesday at the mouth of Suksawat soi 58 as part of the government’s crackdown on drugs. PHOTOS BY PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

A unit was sent to Sap Charoen to conduct a drug search but met Mr Pairoj, a candidate for Bangkok's constituency 9, and his aides on arrival.

According to Col Sansern, the two men accompanying Mr Pairoj allegedly opened their shirts to show they had guns before the three task force members left the area.

"I've questioned officers involved about the incident. You [Mr Pairoj] have pressured our soldiers to leave the area and barred them from carrying out their operation. It's a lack of respect between us. I've always respected you," Gen Prayuth fumed

"Lately, I've tried to keep my mouth shut and tried to build a good atmosphere for the election, so everybody would be happy with the election. People can advertise whatever they want. But you have made allegations against soldiers, you have bullied soldiers. I can't allow it."

Mr Pairoj denied yesterday that he had tried to obstruct the drug raid.

He said he and his aides had travelled to the housing estate after complaints by residents who were frightened by the arrival of soldiers in army vehicles.

Mr Pairoj claimed he left the area after asking the unit about the purpose of its visit. The Nong Chok police chief was there when he talked to the three members of the 315 task force and could be his witness that he did not carry any gun, said Mr Pairoj.

He has lodged civil and criminal complaints against Col Sansern for defaming him and undermining his support.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted the 315 task force has nothing to do with politics and urged the public to cooperate with its personnel.

dare – to be brave enough to do something  กล้า
intimidate – to attempt to frighten someone in order to get them to do something ทำให้กลัว, ข่มขู่
encounter – to meet; to experience or deal with something, especially a problem เผชิญกับ (ปัญหา)
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
aide – someone whose job is to help another person in their work ผู้ช่วย
troops – soldiers, especially in large numbers กองทหาร
vent – to express your feelings of anger very strongly แสดงออก, ปล่อยอารมณ์, ระบายอารมณ์
raid – using force to enter a place suddenly in order to arrest people or search for something such as illegal weapons or drugs การเข้าตรวจค้น
fury – extreme anger; ire ความโกรธจัด
foul play – behaviour that is not fair or honest or that does not keep to accepted rules การทำผิดกฎหมาย
ire – anger ความกริ้วโกรธ, ความโมโห
alleged – claimed to be true although not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
assist – to help ช่วย
drive – a planned effort to achieve something การผลักดัน,ความพยายาม
task force – a group of people who are brought together to do a particular job, or a large military group who have a military aim to achieve คณะทำงานเฉพาะกิจ, กองกำลังเฉพาะกิจ
(housing) estate – an area containing a large number of houses or apartments built close together at the same time บ้านจัดสรร
surround – to be everywhere around something ล้อมรอบ
approach – a way of doing or dealing with something การจัดการกับปัญหา
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
file – to take official action like making a complaint  ยื่นคำร้อง
defamation – the offence of writing or saying something bad about someone that is not true and makes people have a bad opinion of them การใส่ร้าย
role – the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation บทบาท
media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. สื่อ
civilian – of someone who does not belong to the armed forces or the police พลเรือน
campaign – a series of actions intended to produce political or social change การรณรงค์
adjoining – next to and connected to
unit – a group of people who work or live together, especially for a particular purpose หน่วย,กอง,กลุ่ม
conduct – to do something in an organised way; to carry out — ลงมือทำ, ดำเนิน, ปฏิบัติ
search – looking somewhere or through something carefully in order to find something การค้นหา
constituency – a district that elects its own representative to parliament เขตเลือกตั้ง
accompany – to go with someone ไปกับ,ไปด้วยกัน,ไปเป็นเพื่อน
pressure – to try to make someone do something by forcing, threatening, or persuading them in a determined way กดดัน
bar – to not allow someone to do something or go somewhere ห้าม
operation – a planned activity involving a lot of people, especially soldiers or police officers การปฏิบัติการ
lack of – when there is not enough of something  ขาด
respect – a feeling of admiration that you have for someone because of their personal qualities, their achievements, or their status, and that you show by treating them in a polite and kind way ความเคารพ, ความนับถือ
fume – to be very angry about something พลุ่งพล่านด้วยความโกรธ
lately – recently; in the recent past เร็วๆ นี้, เมื่อไม่นานนี้
atmosphere – the mood or feeling that exists in a place บรรยากาศ
advertise – to tell the public about a product or a service, political candidate, etc. in order to encourage people to buy, use or support it ลงโฆษณา
allegations – accusations ข้อกล่าวหา
bully – to use your influence or status to threaten or frighten someone in order to get what you want  รังแก
deny – to say that you did not do something that someone has accused you of doing ปฏิเสธ
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
witness – a person who sees something happen  ผู้ที่เห็นเหตุการณ์
lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim  ยื่น (คำร้อง)
civil – of a case filed a court that deals with non-criminal matters, especially complaints made by people against other people or organisations  คดีที่ยื่นฟ้องต่อศาลแพ่ง
undermine – to make someone become gradually less effective, confident, or successful บ่อนทำลาย
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
cooperate – to work with other people to achieve a result that is good for everyone involved ร่วมมือกัน
personnel – the people who are employed in a company, organization or one of the armed forces บุคลากร, เจ้าหน้าที่, พนักงาน