Army chief not keen on politics

[webfact]

Army chief not keen on politics 

By NATTHAPHAT PHROMKAEW
The Nation

 

File Photo: General Apirat Kongsompong

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong must wait for two years after retirement to be eligible for the position of prime minister, while Apirat says he will not jump into politics.

 

In response to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan comment previously that it would be a good thing if 

Army chief General Apirat Kongsompongo would be the next prime minister, Wissanu Krea-ngam, co-Deputy Prime Minister, said on Monday (October 21) that someone raised the possibility and asked for a comment from Prawit before others followed up the matter.

 

“Apirat is not qualified to be the prime minister because he is a government official and when he retires as Army chief, he will no longer be a senator,” said Wissanu.

 

“According to the Constitution, he has to wait for two years after he retires if he wants to take a position in the Cabinet,” he added.

 

Apirat, however, insisted on the same day that he will not jump into politics. “It is impossible, I will not be in politics and just want to be friends of politicians,” he said.

 

Apirat made a controversial speech on national security topic on October 11,where he expressed his opposition to efforts to amend the junta-sponsor Constitution. Academics and opposition politicians blamed Apirat for trying to intervene in politics, prompting Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to throw his support behind him by saying that Apirat had good intention for the country.

 

Some in the opposition parties have interpreted such move by Prayut and Apirat as a preparation for the latter to be Prayut’s successor when the 4-year term of his government ends. 

 

The observation drew public interest, partly because current senators have voting right in selecting the prime minister as they did with Prayut.

 

Related News:Apirat opposes Section 1 amendment, academics say he exaggerates threat

All eyes on Army chief as he prepares speech on South situation

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30377615

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-10-22

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[champers]

Phew!

[z42]

Only interested in ruling through coups and meddling by attacking those whose politics differ from his own, and moreover not demonstrating the neutrality that a man in his position must.

 

A dangerous lunatic and zealot to match. Wouldn't be wise having a person like that anywhere near politics really

[PatOngo]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

not qualified to be the prime minister

Keep the seat warm for him then!

[Odysseus123]

Well...if you are accustomed to Thai-speak that means he is very keen on politics,indeed.

 

As we have seen with all his pronouncements recently.

[Somtamnication]

Thank God. We wouldn't want Army Chiefs to be politi............oh, wait!

[Scot123]

So for him to become PM he has to do what the current generals did. This one could be very bloody as it not defenseless civilians being held captive by the militare but one faction demanding their time for the golden egg. I do not think this guy will need to or bother to manufacture a pretext.... 

[Cadbury]

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Army chief not keen on politics

On three occasions recently he has made public utterances in reference to politics. On each instance he has made a goose of himself.

It seems the Thai military breeds generals with qualities of endearing charm, integrity, honesty, leadership and humanity. General Prayut Chan-o-cha and General Apirat Kongsompong and General Prawit Wongsuwan are just a few examples of such men. 

Hands up all those who agree. 

[colinneil]

So ole Apirat is not keen on politics, ha, ha ,ha, pull the other 1 mate.

If you are not keen whats all the mouthing off about then?

[Reigntax]

3 hours ago, z42 said:

Only interested in ruling through coups and meddling by attacking those whose politics differ from his own, and moreover not demonstrating the neutrality that a man in his position must.

 

A dangerous lunatic and zealot to match. Wouldn't be wise having a person like that anywhere near politics really

And not wise having such a person heading the military also.

[Eligius]

What a joke - all this pretence that he is 'not qualified to be P.M. because he is a state official and, and, and ...'

    They can - and will - do just whatever they want.

And NOBODY will stop them.

[neeray]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

I will not be in politics

I seem to recall hearing something pretty similar to this being uttered a year or two ago.

 

Now who was that? Oh yes, I recall .............

[holy cow cm]

If he does become PM, I just hope Thailand has Nukes at that time!

[grumbleweed]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Apirat, however, insisted on the same day that he will not jump into politics.

...and Thailand entered a period of mourning

[RichardColeman]

Politics and ruling are not the same thing !

[BobbyL]

Nobody in this day and age who has spent their entire working life in the military should be allowed anywhere near politics. 

[jerojero]

Perfect attitude of a potential coup military leader. Coups are not political, do this guy is scary ready to boot out PM and gov't it may seem.

[neeray]

46 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

If he does become PM, I just hope Thailand has Nukes at that time!

Why?

[ICELANDMAN]

Prayut disagrees and wants to copy XI, having a new law of PM for life adopted

[holy cow cm]

31 minutes ago, neeray said:

Why?

It is a joke as he is a loose unstable cannon.

Edited October 22, 2019 by holy cow cm

[ICELANDMAN]

30 minutes ago, neeray said:

Why?

Holy cow has as suicidal tendency because Brexit

[Misterwhisper]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Apirat says he will not jump into politics.

Unless the "nation is under threat" and he *must* come rescue it...

 

But then again,

5 hours ago, webfact said:

when he retires as Army chief, he will no longer be a senator

As a senator, it seems he already HAS jumped into politics. Or is being a senator perhaps NOT a political position?

[MaxLee]

Who can smell another upcoming "Juuuuust kidding...." 

[nikmar]

2 hours ago, jerojero said:

Perfect attitude of a potential coup military leader. Coups are not political, do this guy is scary ready to boot out PM and gov't it may seem.

I agree. It's always the same "protect the Nation , protect the Monarchy" rhetoric used time and again to justify take overs and stamp downs on protestors. It's almost a copy and paste job. "Communists etc etc"

[ICELANDMAN]

31 minutes ago, nikmar said:

I agree. It's always the same "protect the Nation , protect the Monarchy" rhetoric used time and again to justify take overs and stamp downs on protestors. It's almost a copy and paste job. "Communists etc etc"

Not forget protect wealthy 500 familiy

[Donutz]

Correction: army chief not keen on democratic politicians. Communists the lot of them, give me my toys!

[metisdead]

A post containing an offensive trolling meme and a reply has been removed. 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

As a senator, it seems he already HAS jumped into politics.

Exactly.

And as a Senator he participated in the election of Prayut as prime minister, a public office.

In Thailand there is not even a silk veil between the military and national politics. They're interchangeable and unavoidable.

Under Prayut, Army ISOC's mission was expanded into local politics and assists in monitoring compliance as if it were a government agency to the 20-year National Strategy Plan.

ISOC is the political arm of the Thai military. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Security_Operations_Command

footnote 3 - "Thailand's Deep State—The Military". Asia Sentinel. 2017-11-14.

 

[Scott Tracy]

If he is a Senator, then he's neck deep in politics.

He's a Senator, head of the Army, responsible for the political wing of the Army. Ideal breeding ground for sedition and rebellion, otherwise known as coup. But that's fine, as all other administrations have been run by ex-military or police people.

The current and former administrations were/are weak with the military. Unless and until the military is brought properly under control, there will be no proper civilian government in Thailand. 

335,500 currently serving in theatre forces, 292,000 reservists, according to Wiki, 230,000 police, population 69,000,000. 

Seems to me, it's the Thai way of succession planning. Reminds me of the 80's UK tv series, Yes Minister, episode Party Games.

[spidermike007]

OK, good to know. You are not keen on politics. How about some advice? Have a chat with your buddy Prayuth. Ask him to step down. And remove the army from politics altogether, where they do not belong. Try to make him see that the quality of life is declining dramatically, for all but the super wealthy. And talk some good sense into him. Do it for your people, and your nation, which you incompetent goons claim to care so much about, if nothing else.