Pallop Pinmanee

Resignation of 'commander' in charge of Krue Se violence 'rejected'.
5 August 2004
Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies

BANGKOK, Aug 5 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh today turned down the resignation offered by a 'commander' who ordered an attack on a mosque in the southern province of Pattani in late April that left over 100 suspected militants dead.

Gen. Chavalit told TNA that he disapproved the resignation as the deputy head of a command centre for promoting peace and order in southern border provinces of Gen. Pallop Pinmanee, who is also Deputy Director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

"I appreciate the responsibility shown by Gen. Pallop, but did not sign his resignation, as the country still needs a person who is brave and devote for work like him. I'd like Gen. Pallop to be patient and continue to work for the position", he said.

Military and police officers opened fires on the Krue-sae Mosque in Pattani Province with grenades and automatic rifles on 28 April.

It was the bloodiest incident in a day of fierce fighting between government forces and militants that left 107 suspected militants in all dead.

An independent fact-finding commission found that the authorities had used "unnecessary forces" against the militants who had taken refuge in the abandoned mosque.

It said the level of forces and weapons used in the attack on the mosque were "disproportionate.

The crisis at the Krue Se Mosque should have been resolved peacefully, said the report, which was released on Tuesday.

Gen. Chavalit said that there is no disagreement between him and Gen. Pallop, but he and Gen. Pallop perform duties at different levels; that is he is at the strategic level, while Gen. Pallop is at the tactic level, which may lead to a difference in some decision makings, but both intend to perform the best for the nation.

Gen. Pallop was moved out of the area in an order signed by Gen. Chavalit just hours after the incident.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today praised the high 'spirit' of Gen. Pallop in bravely taking the responsibility for the incident by offering to resign.

However, he noted that the commission's report did not blame the military and police officers involved, but, instead, indicated that the level of forces and weapons used in the attack on the mosque were 'disproportionate'.

"I understand well that the government forces were pressed by the tense situation, in which their fellows were shot dead by the militants, state weapons were robbed, and unknown plans of the militants inside the mosque when the darkness of the night was looming, and so had to make such the decision to prevent any uncontrolable incident ", he said.

"The report of the commission is quite clear, and is understandable. The government has assisted local residents and families affected by incident", he added.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula told TNA that he believed the prime minister would discuss with his cabinet to seek for an appropriate way-out of the controverial Krue Se incident.

"We should not try to point the finger to anybody to take responsibility for the incident. All parties intended to perform their duties best, and have been hurt enough from the incident", he said.