Coup chance ‘less than zero’, says Army chief as tension mounts

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Coup chance ‘less than zero’, says Army chief as tension mounts

By The Nation

 

Army chief General Narongpan Jitkaewthae

 

Army chief General Narongpan Jitkaewthae has dismissed rumours of a coup, as political tension rises amid escalating protests.

 

Asked on Monday if there was any solution to the current political unrest, he said he reminded himself frequently that political conflicts must be solved by political means.

 

“If everyone is sensible and considers the issue from all angles, then we will know what to do,” he said.

 

When reporters pointed out that some people were urging the military to stage a coup, he responded that the possibility of a coup was less than zero. 

 

Narongpan’s comment came as he defended military personnel involved in controlling Sunday’s anti-government rally, when water cannon was used on protesters.

 

Commentators point out that similar vows were made by Prayut Chan-o-cha just months before the then-Army chief staged a coup in 2014 and became prime minister. 

 

Talk of an impending coup is growing louder online, as the government shows no sign of heeding protesters’ demands.

 

Arnon Nampa, a prominent human rights lawyer and key protest leader, has warned a coup would lead to disaster.

 

He also predicted the military would not stage a coup, since that would mean scrapping the current Constitution and opening the door for another party to declare a more democratic charter. Arnon's statement echoed the protest movement's stance that any coup would be met with fierce defiance.

 

“The solution must be via a compromise, as HM the King said, but when or how it will happen [remains unknown], and meanwhile the two sides are trying to prevent loss of life. So we must keep working and find a solution together,” he posted on Facebook on Monday.

 

Arnon was referring to a rare remark made by HM the King on November 1, when he answered a question from a foreign reporter by calling Thailand “the land of compromise”.

 

Key protest group Free Youth stated that coups have never brought national reform, and only ever sweep problems under the carpet. The existing Constitution, which was written by Prayut’s post-coup government, also prohibits the overthrow of the democratic system. 

 

The government has proposed setting up a national reconciliation committee to resolve the problems, but the opposition and protesters view the move as a delaying tactic. Meanwhile the government continues to crack down on peaceful pro-democracy protesters.

 

Gothom Arya, adviser to the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University, said he supported moves to launch a national reconciliation panel because it could lead to a peaceful solution.

 

Pro-democracy demonstrators began protesting in February, pausing during the Covid-19 lockdown before returning to the streets in July. They are demanding Prayut’s resign, a new Constitution and reform of the monarchy.

 

The rallies have triggered smaller counter-protests by yellow-clad royalists. Some observers speculate the establishment may be using the yellow-shirt movement as a tool to stoke tensions in order to justify a coup.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30397635

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-10

 

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