Behind The NEWS
WASSANA NANUAM
Many people would like to know who helped Chettha Thanajaro get three insurgents from the Thailand United Southern Underground to appear on television on Thursday and announce a ceasefire, as the retired general is not an expert on the problems in the far South.
Gen Chettha had no luck trying to solve the insurgency problem in the South when he was defence minister in Thaksin Shinawatra's government.
Since leaving his ministerial post, the general has been trying to help put an end to the daily shootings and violence in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.
His efforts led to the appearance on Channel 5 of the three separatists along with the leader of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana party, who publicly declared he would take all responsibility.
An army source said Gen Chettha met the three when he was the army chief from 1996 to 1998 before he retired and entered politics. He has kept in contact with them since, according to the source.
But he also had some help from former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, as the two regularly met to discuss the southern situation, the source said. Information leading to Thursday's event came from Gen Chavalit's links with his subordinates in charge of intelligence in the Army's Fourth Region, the source added.
Gen Chettha's team regularly contacted the men, and had many trips to Europe for talks. After the three were ready to make their ceasefire announcement, Gen Chettha and his team flew to Germany to meet them and record the video early this month. The three men have been staying in Sweden, another source said.
Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda knew about the moves by Gen Chettha, but did not want the army to get directly involved. The last time they met was on Wednesday on the eve of the decision to air the tape.
The men's appearance on TV raised doubts about whether they were the real leaders behind the daily violence in the southern border areas.
But Gen Chettha was ready to accept any blame, and his statement on Thursday reflected one thing - that he had not acted alone.
"If I am fooled, I won't be the only one," he said.
His behind the scenes work also required a lot of money, including air fares to Europe to meet the three men. It is impossible that the money came from Gen Chettha.
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