Khattiya Sawasdipol - Military Career

Military Career

Khattiya made national news on October 18, 2008, when he announced "he would mobilise government supporters against any military attempt to seize political power." Khattiya said members of the pro-government Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) would use petrol bombs against any tanks and military vehicles taking part in a coup attempt.

Because of his comments, Khattiya was reassigned as an aerobics teacher by Gen. Anupong Paochinda, the Thai Army commander. An irritated Khattiya responded by saying, "The army chief wants me to be a presenter leading aerobics dancers. I have prepared one dance. It's called the 'throwing-a-hand-grenade' dance."

On 14 January 2010, Army Commander Anupong Paochinda ordered a suspension of Khattiya Sawasdipol after an inquiry committee found that Khattiya had openly supported the DAAD, a political pressure group that called for new elections, which breached the principle that military officers do not take sides in politics. The following day, Anupong's office in the Royal Thai Army Headquarters was attacked by grenades fired from a M79 grenade launcher, leaving the office demolished but no one injured. In the news of the attack, Khattiya was described by BBC as a "renegade Thai general who backs anti-government protesters." A member of the protesters' radical wing, he accused the red-shirt leaders - many who then distanced themselves from him - of not being hardline enough.