Thai army chief dismisses rumours of coup

Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday emphatically dismissed rumours signalling a possible coup after the July 3 election, urging politicians not to try to drag the military into politics.

Published

10 years ago

July 1, 2011

Boris Sullivan

Generals have in recent weeks been on a publicity campaign, telling any reporter who would listen that there will be no coup, even if the election result goes against the ruling Democrat Party, the favorite of the military establishment.

The army commander-in-chief stated his position clearly following rumours of a possible coup if the Pheu Thai Party wins Sunday’s general election.

“Rumour is rumour”, he said. “The army will do its duty to let the country move forward on democratic path. Just days ahead of the general election, please do not bring the military into politics.”

But Thai military, like some other Thai elites, views Thailand as a kind of special country, a place where trends in world affairs and international politics somehow do not apply, and which outsiders cannot understand.

Gen Prayuth also denied a report that Wattana Muangsuk, a close aide of fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has met with Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, and that they came up with a solution that the Pheu Thai party will be permitted to form a new government on a condition that it must not take revenge against the military top brass who were involved in 2006 coup that toppled then prime minister Thaksin.

“The military needs not to bargain as it is duty-bound to serve the government through the line of command. No matter who is in power, the power that be can command the military through the defence minister,” Gen Prawit said. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon denied a report that he met with Mr Wattana, another a Pheu Thai party list candidate, neither in Brunei nor Dubai.”I never met him [at all].

I Think the report was intended for the political gain of a particular party as I am a defence minister in command of the military,” Gen Prawit said. MCOT online news

via Thai army chief rejects rumours of coup following July 3 election.

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