Legislation Prepared For PM To Suspend Commanders Suspected Of Hatching Coups

[webfact]

 

IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE TO deter future coup attempts, legislation has been prepared to empower a Prime Minister to suspend any military commanders from duty if suspected of hatching one.

 

The Defence Council, chaired by Pheu Thai-attached Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsang, has endorsed legislation to bestow the Prime Minister with the sole authority to immediately suspend any army, navy or air force officers at any ranks or in any positions from duty, given suspicion that those military officers might possibly be mapping out a coup with use of force to overthrow an elected government and tear up the constitution, said Jamnong Chaimongkol, assistant to the civilian defence minister.

 

The Prime Minister’s legal power to counter future coup attempts is yet to be endorsed in advance by his cabinet of ministers in accordance with the legislation steered by the ruling Pheu Thai after 13 coups had successfully occurred in Thailand since 1933 with the latest one orchestrated in 2014 by army chief-turned-prime minister/now privy councillor/de facto Ruam Thai Sang Chart boss Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

The unprecedented bill, which aside from the necessity of being endorsed by the Pheu Thai-led cabinet of ministers also needs the approval of lawmakers to be turned into law, is primarily designed to preclude a coup attempt which might possibly otherwise be orchestrated by chiefs of the armed services as had been the case of the Prayut coup.

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

Picture: Soldiers rapidly taking control in Bangkok during Thailand’s last coup in 2014. Reuters and published by BBC

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-04-22

 

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[Artisi]

Must be a few rumbles in the jungle by the sound of this. 

[sherwood]

As if this piece of legislation will save the PM from a bullet.

Did you get that message Mr T.

[soi3eddie]

He who has the biggest gun has the power. The "government" can legislate as much as they wish but in the end, those with the military hardware wield the ultimate control...

 

[Zack61]

The government holds no power over the military. They have the bigger pistola. Any commitment for military reform would need to come from within. Government threats would not worry them one iota. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Artisi said:

Must be a few rumbles in the jungle by the sound of this. 

Thaksin making sure his family stay in power forever.

[AhFarangJa]

2 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

He who has the biggest gun has the power. The "government" can legislate as much as they wish but in the end, those with the military hardware wield the ultimate control...

 

Exactly what my Wife says all the time when I mention the Army before being in power, yet having no clue what they were doing, except She says they have the most guns. Also the ruling elite that, quote, "Have money, so can do what they want".

[Bangkok Barry]

 

This comes from a PM who, in practical terms, took power in a coup after the 'wrong' party won the most recent election, the result of which a military-appointed group of dinosaurs senators vetoed.

[Artisi]

20 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

This comes from a PM who, in practical terms, took power in a coup after the 'wrong' party won the most recent election, the result of which a military-appointed group of dinosaurs senators vetoed.

All irellevant as the chosen are ruling as directed 😕

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

He who has the biggest gun has the power. The "government" can legislate as much as they wish but in the end, those with the military hardware wield the ultimate control...

 

I don't agree.

There will be always someone to earn money or other benefits and will reveal plans for a coup, so that PM can take actions.🙏

[Tropicalevo]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

legislation has been prepared to empower a Prime Minister to suspend any military commanders from duty if suspected of hatching one.

Pie in the sky.

Prepared does not mean passed.

A bit like the 10,000 baht vote buying scheme perhaps?

[HaoleBoy]

Can this legislature pass but not be endorsed in the Royal Gazette?  Privy Council or the one who can not be named not endorsing it?

[Aussie999]

Pn suspicion... does anyone else see this as a political tool... not necessarily a state security tool

[dinsdale]

Legislation v Tanks. Which one will win? Apart from that "suspected of hatching coups" is just nonsence. The PM has no control over the army.

Edited April 22 by dinsdale

[DPKANKAN]

Is the Senate going to endorse this????😏😏😏😏😂🤣😂🤣

[Tarteso]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

use of force to overthrow an elected government

Elected ?🤔

[ChrisY1]

"Unprecedented"....I say useless!

[worgeordie]

It's been quite a while since we have had a coup ,maybe due for one 

 

 

regards Worgeordie

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

primarily designed to preclude a coup attempt which might possibly otherwise be orchestrated by chiefs of the armed services

If there is a coup in the making, might such suspension actually accelerate the coup? 

Better might be active People's sovereign control in general (no pun intended) and transparency (especially in suspicious transfers of military personnel, sudden relocation of military equipment and disbursement of unaccountable/off budgeted defence funds) so that the government is provided early warning to possible coup.

With regard to the latter, there might also be a whistle-blower statue in place to encourage and protect rank and file to come forth voluntarily as to possible coup planning and perhaps an Inspector General type oversight to whistle-blower accusations and subpoena authority directed to high ranking military. 

[Artisi]

16 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Elected ?🤔

That's what it's called in Thailand (by some). 

[Deez]

Only suspend?

[klauskunkel]

35 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Elected ?🤔

Erected. It's dysfunctional...

[Eric Loh]

If the military commenders can shred the constitution which is the supreme law of the land, what chance can any legislation stop a coup. 

[Dan O]

so let me get my understanding straight here. The military with all their armory decide to overthrow the elected govt. The Elected govt discovers the coup as it's happening and can say hey wait a minute I suspend your leaders from military service and by the magic of the written legislation the military suddenly stops the coup and turns around and goes back to the barracks and has a beer and watches some TV. And who does the military report to now that carries enough weight for them to listen to Elected officials that they are in the process of throwing out.

[AustinRacing]

Laughable and nonsensical. Suspend? In most countries it carries immediate imprisonment to death penalty. The idea of a coup is to overthrow the government. So if successful what good would that do?

[Tarteso]

12 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Erected. It's dysfunctional...

Lealy ?

[klauskunkel]

1 minute ago, Tarteso said:

Lealy ?

Clealy!

[Jackbenimble]

any successful coup would render the PM powerless wouldn't it? They wouldn't be having anyone arrested.

Edited April 22 by Jackbenimble

[webfact]

Military Defence reforms raise concerns among military brass
by Bob Scott 

 

Picture of Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang courtesy of Thai PBS

 

Proposed reforms to the administrative laws governing the Defence Ministry and amendments to the Military Court charter have raised concerns among senior military officials, as they apprehend potential political meddling in military matters, disclosed a trustworthy military insider.

 

The proposed amendments, acknowledged at a Defence Ministry meeting last week, include new criteria for promoting generals and the power for the prime minister to suspend high-ranking officers suspected of orchestrating a military coup.

 

The proposal also includes the addition of two members to the currently three-member council. However, the military source indicated that the armed forces remain uninformed about the specifics of the proposal, which was advocated for adoption by Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang at the council meeting on April 19, said a source.

“A working group has been established by Mr Sutin to draft amendments to the two laws, chaired by Gen Somsak Rungsita. However, no details of the proposal were divulged at the meeting.”

The military source also suggested that the two additional council members would likely be government representatives. Uncertainty shrouds the potential impact of the proposed changes on the composition of the Seven-Tiger Board, responsible for overseeing high-level military reshuffles.

 

The board traditionally consists of seven members: the defence permanent secretary, the chief of defence forces, the commanders-in-chief of the army, air force and navy, the defence minister, and a deputy defence minister, if one is in place. The board’s composition decreases to six members if a deputy defence minister is not appointed by the government, added the source.

 

“At this stage, it’s uncertain whether the board will maintain its current composition.”

 

The introduction of more government representatives to the board could diminish the bargaining power of the military leaders over military reshuffles.

 

Under the existing system, armed forces leaders, with a majority of five votes, have significant influence over crucial promotions, including the commander-in-chief positions, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-22

 

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[retarius]

What if the commanders don't accept the suspension? Who is going to enforce the suspension?