Watching Politics

[PhilHarries]

Okay, what does the forum make of the following from the Bangkok Post breaking news.

Army to 'watch politics from a distance'

Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said Thursday that the military would not interfere with the formation of a government allied with the ousted premier, but refused to rule out another coup in 2008.

Allies of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a putsch last year, won the most seats in weekend elections, dealing a blow to the military that had sought to rid Thailand of Thaksin's political legacy.

"Political problems must be solved by politics -- the military will only keep watch from a distance, although nobody wants to witness clashes of people," Genl Boonrawd told reporters.

"The duty of the military is finished and next it's the duty of political parties to set up government -- the military will not interfere," he said.

But he added: "I cannot guarantee that there will not be a coup in 2008, just like I cannot rule out a natural disaster."

The generals who seized power 15 months ago have so far been tight-lipped about the electoral success of their foes.

Coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said only that he would press ahead with corruption investigations into the former government.

People Power Party (PPP), which is widely seen as Thaksin's proxy party, won 233 of the 480 parliamentary seats, just short of the absolute majority needed to govern alone.

PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrajang said Thursday that the party had reached agreement with smaller outfits, and so far their coalition government would have a total of 254 seats in the lower house.

"As of now, we have secured 254 seats, which is more than half," he said, but added that negotiations were still ongoing with other parties.

PPP are expected to announce the details of their coalition government on January 4, and the Democrats have made it clear that if their rivals fail to put together a government, they will form their own.

Thaksin said earlier this week that he planned to return home by April, but a senior official at the Attorney General's office on Thursday cautioned that the former premier would face arrest on corruption and fraud charges.

Boonrawd, who was installed in his post by the junta soon after the coup, said he was not concerned that Thaksin would return to power and seek to punish the military with a purge of those linked to the putsch.

"I am not afraid of revenge as I consider that the military had done the right thing," he said. - Agencies

What Boonrawd considers "the right thing" will almost certainly not be the same as a certain returning prodigal son.

[mrtoad]

Lot's of posturing going on, it appears that this is a "subtle" warning to the PPP to toe the the line so as to speak.

The chances of the "military" keeping their beak out of politics, is about the same as me obtaining Thai PR in the next month.

[billaaa777]

I read that and almost posted it here. Just absolutely positively disgusting. First comparing a coup to a natural disaster proves he is a complete idiot. Or in other words the coup was a disaster for the country and we don't care if we shove another disaster down the citizens throat. As much as I would like that Thaksin would just stay away, it is very clear that the citizens of Thailand supported his policies. The citizens of Thailand have just told the military to just step out of politics, we don’t want you, we don’t need you and you made a major mistake the first time you staged a coup. And what does the military do, threaten another one. They are just a bunch of lowlife scumbags who don’t care about the country at all, but only their self interest. In other words, we have to stay in power so we can just rob and steal from the poor people of Thailand more and more.

Each of these thieves and had salaries of less than 100,000 a month and are worth hundreds of millions of baht. No wonder they could not get anything on Thaksin, they are even worse than he his. Stinking PIGS!

Edited December 28, 2007 by billaaa777

[Upcountry]

Coup coming...

[h90]

I read that and almost posted it here. Just absolutely positively disgusting. First comparing a coup to a natural disaster proves he is a complete idiot. Or in other words the coup was a disaster for the country and we don't care if we shove another disaster down the citizens throat. As much as I would like that Thaksin would just stay away, it is very clear that the citizens of Thailand supported his policies. The citizens of Thailand have just told the military to just step out of politics, we don’t want you, we don’t need you and you made a major mistake the first time you staged a coup. And what does the military do, threaten another one. They are just a bunch of lowlife scumbags who don’t care about the country at all, but only their self interest. In other words, we have to stay in power so we can just rob and steal from the poor people of Thailand more and more.

Each of these thieves and had salaries of less than 100,000 a month and are worth hundreds of millions of baht. No wonder they could not get anything on Thaksin, they are even worse than he his. Stinking PIGS!

Just yesterday all my staff expressed the hope that the military will come back, if Samak gets premier.

Everyone here like the coup, just they didn't agree to Surayuds friendly politic.

If Samak makes something silly the Military guys won't have any other chance than protecting the country and kick them out again.