Report Defence Minister Keeps Alarm Bells Ringing: Coup Not Off the Table

[webfact]

Thai Army soldiers in Chiang Mai, 2014 | File photo by Takeaway - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

 

Thailand’s Defence Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has raised eyebrows with an unvarnished warning about the possibility of future coups. Ten years since the 2014 power grab, Phumtham is urging all to study the past to fortify democracy. Clear-eyed about history, he insists no guarantees can be given against a repeat.

 

Reflecting on modern military leadership, Phumtham concedes they exhibit progressive thinking and grasp the bigger picture globally. This perception, however, doesn’t eliminate the coup threat entirely. Cautioning political players, he underscores devotion to democratic frameworks and mutual respect across political divides.

 

Phumtham paints a picture of a Thai society gradually cherishing its democratic entitlements, which he hopes could stymie future coup attempts. He champions peaceful and sustainable solutions through vigilant and shared understanding to avert military interventions.

 

Parliamentarian Parit Wacharasindhu chimes in, drawing attention to eleven democracy-stumbling blocks, spotlighting the Senate and its controversial election process. He argues these systemic issues find roots in the 2017 constitution, under scrutiny for potential election fraud.

 

In sum, while Phumtham expresses cautious optimism about Thailand’s democratic roadmap, he lays down a reminder of vigilance. With society slowly embracing democratic values, he advocates for resolving disputes within the established systems, steering clear of coups that could disrupt Thailand’s evolving democratic journey.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-23

 

 

[Patong2021]

Nice way to reassure  investment markets potential visitors. I can picture Mr.  and Mrs. Wong already concerned about the potential for being waylaid in a taxi, now worried  if they will get caught up in Somchai's next coup d'etat.

[whiteman]

a nice way to stuff up one's economy

[Pouatchee]

not very democratic, but i would like to see the shins ousted once and for all. PP won the election and were cornered by the political manipulations of the Pukethai and their minions... dang I want to see soft power queen and puppet power outta here

[ozz1]

Unfortunately Thailand won't change one coupe after another pp  should have come to power but the elites running this country don't want power to the people

[JimHuaHin]

Coups are always on the table in Thailand; it is just a question of who will launch a coup d'etat on whose behalf with the aim of achieving what?

 

Considering the current state of the Thai economy and growing discontent in the middle military ranks, the next coup d'etat .....

[ikke1959]

It is the question if the coup will be accepted by the people or not.. If not a second Myanmar will be here, and in my opinion I think that the Thai people will not accept a new coup. The army, and the rich have lost all their popularity already by abuse of the section 112 law, and there is a lot of unsatisfaction about the delayed 10k wallet and the incompetence of the Thaksin show and many more.. I think that the people will stand up this time... Be warned

[Nickcage49]

We haven't had a good coup for a while. It's certainly entertaining...

[spidermike007]

Nope. Won't happen again. Why? All the moral authority is gone. The people will not tolerate these goons much longer. My theory is that the army brass already knows this, and are now forming an escape plan. Hopefully into exile, but far better, into prison. 

 

They can fight a few tens of thousands. They cannot possibly beat many millions. And that is what we will see when this army created debacle is over with. 

 

They are utterly desperate to hang onto power, and access to the trillions of baht that likely generates for them. Using the LM and sedition laws shows how utterly intolerant of criticism these very small, very weak men are, that they need to hide behind and utilize these laws, to attempt crush the will of the people. 

 

The time is coming, when this will no longer be tolerated. Just wait. The army is on it's way out. It could take awhile, and it could get ugly, though it will never get to the hellish level of Burma, as the Thai parents would never, ever permit that kind of genocidal behavior from their sons. You take out one Thai, and you are forever disowned by this family. That is all it would take to bring about mass defections from the army ranks. That would sure be fun to witness. Are the pompous generals going to put themselves into harms way? Never. They do not have it in them, they are cowards. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

not very democratic, but i would like to see the shins ousted once and for all. PP won the election and were cornered by the political manipulations of the Pukethai and their minions... dang I want to see soft power queen and puppet power outta here

Maybe Paetongtarn was checking out property on her latest visit abroad.

Daddy might have to find another back-door out, Yingluk won't be coming back anytime soon.

[klauskunkel]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s Defence Minister, Phumtham is urging all to study the past to fortify democracy.

Democracy has been weakened by the Election Committee, the Supreme Court, Thai institutions, the government and individual politicians, and now this Minister "is urging all to study the past to fortify democracy"? What a cheeky fellow...

 

[billd766]

29 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

We haven't had a good coup for a while. It's certainly entertaining...

There is no such thing as a "good" coup.

[billd766]

IMHO I don't think that there will be another coup. The current army is in 2 parts and the larger part is more loyal to the King than to the army high command.

[proton]

6 minutes ago, billd766 said:

IMHO I don't think that there will be another coup. The current army is in 2 parts and the larger part is more loyal to the King than to the army high command.

 

How do you know?

[soalbundy]

25 minutes ago, billd766 said:

There is no such thing as a "good" coup.

Oh I wouldn't say that, it's entertaining and brings down the baht.

[Quentin Zen]

always a fear in a foreign country.  nationalize.  bank accounts, frozen.  not many will cry for us....  look, they warned you about a coup and you didn't prepare Plan B.  Plan B is Pattaya!!!  Oh, doomed.   

 

Bug-out bag and crypto on a USB  or cold storage or whatever I have no idea......lol...... Plan C, learn about crypto.  

[Sydebolle]

Has ever anyone counted, how many times the army did a coup d'état to depose of a "democratically elected" government - based on the voters wishes? 
Those who have been in the land long enough might recall 17 May 1992, when the then sitting monarch, HM Bhumiphol ordered Suchinda (army) and Chamlong Simuang (elected PM) to the palace to scold the two, on their knees and elbows on the floor. His message was clear, do what the people want and not what you want (addressing the issue mainly to Suchinda but for face-saving reasons he showered both of them). They creeped backwards and next day it was business as usual - once more again HM had spoken as before in 1973 and 1976. 

Maybe it is time to reinstate absolute monarchy again as the democratic model with a constitutional monarchy seems to be flawed ever since its introduction in 1932 - still not understood democracy after 93 years. 

Phumtham Wechayachai might address the issue to his own people in uniform as the coups always and in every case originated in the barracks of the greedy - as proven countless times meanwhile. Anyhow, his statement certainly did not underline more trust into this country which, like it or not, depends on foreign business interests in investment and as a market place. 

[Look Chang]

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

Oh I wouldn't say that, it's entertaining and brings down the baht.

 Yes, Thai politic is boring without a periodic coup d'etat like we used to live in the past . . . 🤫

[JJ-Thailand]

If politicians are not corrupt, coups are not needed.

[khunPer]

20 coup d'état since 1932 – that is in average one every 5th year – the last one was in 2014...

[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

IMHO I don't think that there will be another coup. The current army is in 2 parts and the larger part is more loyal to the King than to the army high command.

Thai army coups happen with the tacit approval of..., ever ask yourself how former coup leaders become untouchable members of the privy council...

[billd766]

1 hour ago, proton said:

 

How do you know?

 

Please show me where I claim to "know".

 

 

What do you NOT understand about the expression IMHO?

 

It stands for In My Honest Opinion.

 

It seems to me that I know and understand what an opinion is, something that you obviously do not.

[proton]

5 minutes ago, billd766 said:

 

Please show me where I claim to "know".

 

 

What do you NOT understand about the expression IMHO?

 

It stands for In My Honest Opinion.

 

It seems to me that I know and understand what an opinion is, something that you obviously do not.

 

If you don't' know why post claims like:

 

'The current army is in 2 parts and the larger part is more loyal to the King than to the army high command.'

 

What do you base that opinion on?

 

 

[billd766]

5 minutes ago, proton said:

 

If you don't' know why post claims like:

 

'The current army is in 2 parts and the larger part is more loyal to the King than to the army high command.'

 

What do you base that opinion on?

 

 

What do you NOT understand about the expression IMHO?

 

It stands for In My Honest Opinion.

[factual monk]

It's round the corner... 😀

[BritScot]

8 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

not very democratic, but i would like to see the shins ousted once and for all. PP won the election and were cornered by the political manipulations of the Pukethai and their minions... dang I want to see soft power queen and puppet power outta here

 

8 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

not very democratic, but i would like to see the shins ousted once and for all. PP won the election and were cornered by the political manipulations of the Pukethai and their minions... dang I want to see soft power queen and puppet power outta here

Maybe head north as you seem to like dictatorship! If the people vote then the Military have no justification in taking the country at the end of a gun!!!  This General needs to be imprisoned for treason before it is to late!

[proton]

24 minutes ago, billd766 said:

What do you NOT understand about the expression IMHO?

 

It stands for In My Honest Opinion.

 

OK I think we all got that now, based on WHAT?

[Felton Jarvis]

Democracy by threat of a coup. What a novel approach. Only in Thailand.

[BLMFem]

34 minutes ago, proton said:

 

OK I think we all got that now, based on WHAT?

Are you really that thick? Do you honestly not understand that to go into more details would be to touch on forbidden subjects, or are you just trolling to get the poster in trouble?

[dinsdale]

9 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

not very democratic, but i would like to see the shins ousted once and for all. PP won the election and were cornered by the political manipulations of the Pukethai and their minions... dang I want to see soft power queen and puppet power outta here

You have obviously forgotten when it came down to it it was the military appointed senate and the CC and the EC that were responsible for the overthrow of a "democratic" election result.