1st Army Chief Insists There Are No Coup Plans

[george]

1st Army chief insists there are no coup plans

BANGKOK: -- First army region commander Prayuth Chan-ocha insisted that the army does not plan to stage a military coup.

"Military training is our job...we have to train at night to prepare our soldiers for tasks in the restive South," Lieutenant General Prayuth told reporters. "There is no need to worry. We just do our job. Without training, soldiers will be weak."

He was explaining recent troops movements, which have renewed rumours the military is once again getting ready to stage a coup d'etat and overthrow the elected government.

His assurance came after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej claimed Friday the army is preparing to stage a coup.

Lt Gen Prayuth also admitted that the political situation is fragile and he is worried about it.

However, he said it is the responsibility of the government to try to mend rifts within the country.

--Bangkok Post 2008-05-03

[george]

1st Army Area chief urges rivals to bury conflicts

BANGKOK: -- Lt Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Saturday called on rival sides to bury their conflicts and ego and try to reconcile for the sake of national interest.

Prayuth if the two rival sides tried to understand each other and give priority to the national interest, the country could go on and no violence would take place.

He said the military did not want to see the country erupt in turmoil.

He said the current situation has been proceeding according to the law and the government had the duty to improve the administration.

-- The Nation 2008-05-03

[LaoPo]

1st Army Area chief urges rivals to bury conflicts

BANGKOK: -- Lt Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Saturday called on rival sides to bury their conflicts and ego and try to reconcile for the sake of national interest.

Prayuth if the two rival sides tried to understand each other and give priority to the national interest, the country could go on and no violence would take place.

He said the military did not want to see the country erupt in turmoil.

He said the current situation has been proceeding according to the law and the government had the duty to improve the administration.

-- The Nation 2008-05-03

What/which rival sides is he pointing at ? Political...military ?

Excuse me if I'm ignorant.

LaoPo

[Scott]

There's been just a little too much talk about a coup lately. Where there's smoke, there's fire!

It seems somebody is up to something or somebody is trying to scare someone!

[Thai at Heart]

There's been just a little too much talk about a coup lately. Where there's smoke, there's fire!

It seems somebody is up to something or somebody is trying to scare someone!

It would have to be said that with the military's love of a good coup, (Forgotton how many since democracy came into use in Thailand), that the Thai military is the most active political party in the country.

[digitele]

Nothing is true until it's been officially denied

World timing is about right, nobody would care. It would also stop the unwanted appreciation of the Baht.

Not to mention all the internal housecleaning that needs to be done.

[thaigene2]

The old-family Thai establishment-types are determined to run the TRT/PPP populist upstarts out of town. These old families have successfully exploited this low-wage, cap-in-hand, patronistic society for many decades now and they are not going to let anyone spoil their system. I'm not defending Samak or PPP (how could anyone condone a Government filled with right-wing whackos like Samak and cringers like Chalerm), but they have a right to govern and if they are thrown out again it will be clear to even the most illiterate farmer that the rich establishment are giving the rest of the country the middle finger.

Therefore this next coup could be very nasty indeed - a bloodless coup maybe - but it's what would follow that scares me more. No posing for photos with tank drivers this time round I reckon..

[Seneque]

Nothing is true until it's been officially denied

World timing is about right, nobody would care. It would also stop the unwanted appreciation of the Baht.

Not to mention all the internal housecleaning that needs to be done.

agree totally

unfortunately military intervention (anywhere) is not a solution, only a part of the problem

[ilyushin]

Why a coup? Only person(s) that get any benefits is the former TRT boss and enlisted. Samak out and now what? The prepaid masses and the ones that love him already will beg him to come back and save the nation. I can see it now " Okay, I will return to politics to serve my people and save the nation" and " I know that I said, " I will never return to politics, but I didn't mention anything about being in power or total control" and " I am not a politician as there is no place for any in my new government"

Just thinking out loud.

1st Army Chief?

"His assurance came after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej claimed Friday the army is preparing to stage a coup."

He the RTA official spokesman now?

[toptuan]

Rule of thumb: The more the army insists it will not stage a coup, the more likely the coup.

Proof: Last 17 or 18 coups.

Age-old wisdom: "Thou protesteth too much."

[Insight]

Thing is now Samak can now harp on as much as he likes about so-called coup plans whether they're genuine or not, knowing full well it doesn't matter the slightest what the army says. My own opinion is that the TRT know this and are going to use it to their advantage as much as possible, as we're seeing now.

[Thai at Heart]

Thing is now Samak can now harp on as much as he likes about so-called coup plans whether they're genuine or not, knowing full well it doesn't matter the slightest what the army says. My own opinion is that the TRT know this and are going to use it to their advantage as much as possible, as we're seeing now.

If they move ahead to change the constitution without recourse to a referendum, then essentially, we are back to the day before the last coup.

If they change the constitution arbitrarily I am absolutely sure there will be a coup.