Clip furore looks set to bring down Yuthasak

Deputy Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa seems to be counting down his days at the Defence Ministry as the ‘‘amnesty’’ audio clip backfires. Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is said to be upset with the general’s recklessness which resulted in the accidental release of the clip. It caused a political stir, and resulted in the collapse of the ‘‘take him home’’ plot.

Senior military men referred to in the clip, namely army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and Supreme Commander Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, have distanced themselves from the embattled minister.

It seems clear that Gen Yuthasak will have to go as the pressure to sack him from the cabinet is mounting. It’s only a matter of when.

Timing is the only reason that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra — who doubles as defence minister — has delayed his removal from her cabinet as the fourth reshuffle is still so recent.

It is likely that Gen Yuthasak could stay on until the annual military transfer is complete even though he, against his wishes, has no role in it.

Instead, Ms Yingluck is expected to handle the transfer herself — with the help of a strong support team.

Among the support team are Gen Kwanchart Klaharn, former 4th Army commander and adviser to the late prime minister and defence minister Samak Sundaravej.

Gen Kwanchart, who is a close friend of Pol Gen Chalor Choowong, former deputy police chief, and a former classmate of Thaksin, makes a comeback as secretary of the defence minister.

Reinforcing Ms Yingluck’s support team are Gen Chiradej Kocharat, former 3rd Army commander, who is expected to be named adviser to the minister, plus Gen Somchai Wisanuwong, who was former candidate for the position of deputy defence minister.

This time, Thaksin has more than 10 ‘‘red-leaning’’ officers on the waiting list for the top job at the ministry.

Under the spotlight is Gen Pisarn Wat-

Timing is the only reason that the prime minister has delayed his removal from her cabinet, as the fourth reshuffle is still so recent.

tanawongkiri, another former 4th Army commander, who stands ready as Gen Yuthasak’s replacement; while Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, former defence minister in the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, is tipped to become defence minister with strong backing from army chief Gen Prayuth.

This is despite concern among those from class 10 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School who have questioned the general’s loyalty.

They are also worried that the appointment of Gen Prawit may upset red-shirt members given his role in the crackdown at Ratchaprasong in 2010.

This is one reason why the military top brass turned up in full force to receive Ms Yingluck on her first day of work at the Defence Ministry on July 26. Each had in hand a proposal that requires approval from her, effectively bypassing Gen Yuthasak who had previously been cast as ‘‘de facto defence minister’’. Now his job is downgraded to screening papers for Ms Yingluck.

Though the general turns up every day for work, his enthusiasm appears to have dried up. Since the clip scandal broke, he has kept a low profile and avoided journalists.

As the amnesty plot was crushed, Gen Yuthasak appears to have become resigned to his fate.

‘‘The amnesty bill will not be forwarded to the Defence Council,’’ he said briefly.

The terse statement contradicted the content in the clip that revealed a plot to link the amnesty bill to the Defence Council and ultimately the National Security Council.

The plan was to make the bill an executive decree, not an act, a move which would have bypassed parliament and required only cabinet approval.

Gen Prayuth — despite reports of his prior acknowledgement of the amnesty plot — stressed similarly that the council would not consider any bills that are unrelated to military affairs.

Gen Yuthasak has strong ties to people from the ammart ( elite), including Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda. No surprise then if Thaksin had trusted Gen Yuthasak with the secret mission. But by making such a grave mistake as to fail to keep the recording under wraps, the 76-year-old general has turned into a scapegoat in a political game in which he must be sacrificed to prolong the government’s hold on power.