Khattiya Sawasdipol
Encyclopedia
Khattiya Sawasdipol alias Seh Daeng , was a major general
in the Royal Thai Army, assigned to the Internal Security Operations Command. He claimed to have helped the United States
spy on North Vietnam during the Vietnam War
, and to have taken part in the CIA-financed "Secret War" against the communists in the Plain of Jars
, in Laos
. Khattiya disguised himself as a Muslim
in order to infiltrate rebel groups in Aceh
Indonesia
.
about his adventures in a series called Khom...Seh Daeng . Khattiya frequently appeared on television talk shows and has had a cult of followers, achieving almost celebrity status. He came into conflict with the Thai police commander, General Seri Temiyavet, during the investigation of a large gambling den in 2006. General Seri filed a libel suit against Khattiya, who was arrested and sentenced to prison for four months. Khattiya subsequently brought a 600 million Baht libel suit against Seri for defamation.
would use petrol bomb
s against tank
s and military vehicles taking part in a coup attempt.
Khattiya was reassigned as an aerobics
teacher by Gen. Anupong Paochinda
, Thai Army commander. 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 has supported the DAAD
, a political pressure group that called for elections, breaching official disciplines. The following day, Anupong's office in the Royal Thai Army Headquarters was bombed by rockets launched by a M79 rocket launcher
, which left the office demolished but no one injured. In this event, Khattiya was described by BBC
as a "renegade Thai general who backs anti-government protesters." A backer and part of the protesters' more radical wing, he had accused red-shirt leaders - many of whom have distanced themselves from him - of not being hardline enough.
and underwent dialysis
. Khattiya Sawasdipol's death was announced on May 17, 2010 at 9:20 am.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Royal Thai Army, assigned to the Internal Security Operations Command. He claimed to have helped the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
spy on North Vietnam during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and to have taken part in the CIA-financed "Secret War" against the communists in the Plain of Jars
Plain of Jars
The Plain of Jars is a megalithic archaeological landscape in Laos. Scattered in the landscape of the Xieng Khouang plateau Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR, are thousands of megalithic jars...
, in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. Khattiya disguised himself as a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
in order to infiltrate rebel groups in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
Personal life
He wrote several best-sellers in the Thai languageThai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
about his adventures in a series called Khom...Seh Daeng . Khattiya frequently appeared on television talk shows and has had a cult of followers, achieving almost celebrity status. He came into conflict with the Thai police commander, General Seri Temiyavet, during the investigation of a large gambling den in 2006. General Seri filed a libel suit against Khattiya, who was arrested and sentenced to prison for four months. Khattiya subsequently brought a 600 million Baht libel suit against Seri for defamation.
Military career
Khattiya made news on October 18, 2008, by announcing "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)National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship , whose supporters are commonly called "Red Shirts", is a political pressure group opposed to the People's Alliance for Democracy , the 2006 Thai military coup, and supporters of the coup. Notable UDD leaders include Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut...
would use petrol bomb
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
s against tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s and military vehicles taking part in a coup attempt.
Khattiya was reassigned as an aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
teacher by Gen. Anupong Paochinda
Anupong Paochinda
General Anupong Paochinda is a former Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army. He held the position from 2007 until his retirement on 30 September 2010....
, Thai Army commander. 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
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
' dance."
On 14 January 2010, Army Commander Anupong Paochinda
Anupong Paochinda
General Anupong Paochinda is a former Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army. He held the position from 2007 until his retirement on 30 September 2010....
ordered a suspension
Suspension (punishment)
Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...
of Khattiya Sawasdipol after an inquiry committee found that Khattiya has supported the DAAD
National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship , whose supporters are commonly called "Red Shirts", is a political pressure group opposed to the People's Alliance for Democracy , the 2006 Thai military coup, and supporters of the coup. Notable UDD leaders include Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut...
, a political pressure group that called for elections, breaching official disciplines. The following day, Anupong's office in the Royal Thai Army Headquarters was bombed by rockets launched by a M79 rocket launcher
M79 rocket launcher
The 90 mm M79 Manual Rocket Launcher nicknamed "Osa" is a light, reusable, and effective rocket launcher system made of fiber-reinforced plastics. It consists of the launcher, a CN-6 Sighting piece, rocket and the carrying case for the rocket. While primarily intended as an anti-tank weapon,...
, which left the office demolished but no one injured. In this event, Khattiya was described by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as a "renegade Thai general who backs anti-government protesters." A backer and part of the protesters' more radical wing, he had accused red-shirt leaders - many of whom have distanced themselves from him - of not being hardline enough.
Death
Khattiya Sawasdipol was shot in the head, apparently by a sniper, at the intersection of the Sala Daeng Sky Train station, on the evening of May 13, 2010 as he was being interviewed by a reporter from the New York Times. Critically wounded, he was admitted to Huachiew hospital. On May 16, 2010, he suffered renal failureRenal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
and underwent dialysis
Dialysis
In medicine, dialysis is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure...
. Khattiya Sawasdipol's death was announced on May 17, 2010 at 9:20 am.
Sources
- Post Today. (2008, 3 September). Anupong say 'Stop this civil war. Extra page 2.
- Thai RathThai RathThai Rath is a Thai-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok and distributed nationwide. The paper is a broadsheet published with two sections. The first section is devoted to news. Although the news section is best known for its sensationalist coverage of crime and accidents, it also...
. (2010, 21 January). Army Commander's office at the RTA Headquarters bombed. [Online]. Available: <click>. (Accessed: 21 January 2010). - The Nation. (2010, 14 January). Khattiya to cease his activities. [Online]. Available: <click>. (Accessed: 21 January 2010).
- The Nation. (2010, 17 May). Seh Daeng pronounced dead at 9:20 am. [Online]. Available: <click>. (Accessed: 17 May 2010).
External links
- FROM THE BARRACKS: 'Seh Daeng' - a clowning soldier not to be laughed at (retrieved 8:50 PM 11/27/2008). The article says that "his only daughter, Khattiyar, 27, ironically is an ardent supporter of the PAD.... But he was not prepared to go soft on the PAD - believing that one can have another daughter but a shattered nation cannot be rebuilt." [dead link]