PM Abhisit Dismisses Chance Of Military Coup

[webfact]

PM dismisses coup chance

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Thursday said certain groups of people wanted the military to stage a coup against his government but that he did not think the desire would be realised.

Abhisit said that the ties between his government and the Army "have had no problems" over the past two years that he has been in office. "There has been good understanding and everybody is doing their duties," he said.

When asked why he was so confident in Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the prime minister said he has seen a strong determination in Prayuth to "get the country going" at a time of crisis.

Responding to rumours of coup, the premier said: "I don't know if there is any group [in the military] that is plotting a coup. But I am sure there are people who want it to happen, although it's another matter if [a coup] will actually occur."

He also agreed there were attempts to drive a wedge between the government and the military.

"The government wants the country to go forward while the opposition focuses on political issues to expand the conflict. I would like to ask people to decide if they want a political party that tries to tackle their problems or a party that causes conflict and turns away from their problems or even makes them worse," Abhisit said. The Democrat Party leader reiterated what he said during the party's fund-raising event on Tuesday night.

Regarding the opposition's allegations ahead of the censure debate blaming the government for last year's deadly protest dispersal, the prime minister said the opposition repeated its claims that were already explained in the previous no-confidence debate and disputed by the authorities. He said the opposition opted for half-truth, particularly the part that would give them political advantage.

When asked to comment on a claim by Jatuporn Prompan, an opposition Pheu Thai MP and red shirt leader, that he got the damaging information from someone who betray the government, Abhisit said: "He often has this kind of information that has repeatedly been proved to be untrue."

Meanwhile, Suthep Thaugsuban, the deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs, Thursday said he expected "a lot of distortions, false accusations, and lies" during the upcoming censure debate, scheduled to take place next week.

He said a group of politicians was trying to discredit the armed forces "one by one" after the military refused to listen to them or serve them and following repeated failures to interfere with the military.

"You may still remember the terms 'watermelon soldiers' and 'tomato police'. Now that both the watermelons and the tomatoes don't work, and they adopt this new way - destroying the military," Suthep said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-10

[jdinasia]

A GREAT line from the PM (whether you believe him or not!) ..... He needs to repeat it often and loudly, followed by highlighting the accomplishments of the Dems in real reform for the poor.

I would like to ask people to decide if they want a political party that tries to tackle their problems or a party that causes conflict and turns away from their problems or even makes them worse

[asiawatcher]

"... The government wants the country to go forward while the opposition focuses on political issues to expand the conflict. I would like to ask people to decide if they want a political party that tries to tackle their problems or a party that causes conflict and turns away from their problems or even makes them worse."

Now there is the sword that cuts to the truth - well said. I wonder if Thailand at large will ever get this message.

[dumpling]

The rumours of coups and protests going into this time of year are unsettling will we see a repeat of the past fiascos that always arise or play out during these summer months?

Lets hope cooler heads win out and we get through the election and return to some resemblance of normality and stability.

[metisdead]

Myself and other Admin's have posted this warning quite often recently, our patience is wearing thin.

A post and replies with reference to HM the King have been removed. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family.

[bangon04]

"... The government wants the country to go forward while the opposition focuses on political issues to expand the conflict. I would like to ask people to decide if they want a political party that tries to tackle their problems or a party that causes conflict and turns away from their problems or even makes them worse."

Now there is the sword that cuts to the truth - well said. I wonder if Thailand at large will ever get this message.

or do the Thai people just want any party which will pay them 500 Baht each time they vote.....

[AleG]

The Red Shirts keep going on about an impending coup; I suppose it's a good rallying point to be against something that hasn't happened yet, even less need for empirical proof as their other claims.

It's quite brilliant in a sense though, if there's a coup they'll say "Ha!, told you so (and please ignore the umpteen things we did to destabilize the country)" and if there's no coup they'll say how the strength of their movement prevented the elites from blah, blah, blah...

[jayboy]

A GREAT line from the PM (whether you believe him or not!) ..... He needs to repeat it often and loudly, followed by highlighting the accomplishments of the Dems in real reform for the poor.

I would like to ask people to decide if they want a political party that tries to tackle their problems or a party that causes conflict and turns away from their problems or even makes them worse

Repeating often and loudly is some peoples idea of persuasion, not mine nor I think Abhisit's.It's a question of education really.

All political parties want to win elections and policies are adapted accordingly.The Democrats have "walked away with the Whigs' clothing" (an allusion for us Russell Group types) and are implementing the PPP populist measures although on a greater scale and cost.I don't blame them:it's what politicians do to win in any country.

Silly rhetoric is also a part of all political campaigns.Why should any political party that wants to do well turn away from peoples problems or want to make them worse?

[hammered]

Abhisit wants an election ASAP before uncontrollable food price increases undermine his and coalition allies chances. The PAD want a coup as its the only shot they have of having any influence over anything including their court cases. The UDD would love a coup as it would be the ultimate rallying call and an opportunity to have watermelons play games. The UDD and PTP also want a delayed election not only becuase the food price thing plays well for them but also because they have the leadership issue to resolve andif they can get another round of prolonged street demos going it will give pause for though to potential defectors and this is an issue that worries them.

It is likely that the elite dont favour a coup unless the military opinion polls (unerringly accurate before the last election) show a clear PTP win and they favour an early poll as the best way to undercut any attempt by the reds to have a prolonged rally. That would be hard to jusitfy with an election campaign underway. The interesting part of this is that Jatuporn and some others will try to use the censure to make Abhisit put the poll on hold although the evidence leaked so far looks incapable of really doing anything, so maybe a sudden prolonged rally will be considered although that is difficult to organize quickly. One of the Thaksin side guys the other day though was bragging about the 5 billion baht fund that PTP had available to buy favours so anything does become possible.

[jdinasia]

People who don't see what the Dems have done in real reform just have not paid any attention. People that don't think there is a negative reaction from much of the country who DO think the reds have done damage to the country and that PTP is fielding candidates that are red shirt leaders seem to be missing something too. Nothing much will change the minds of the longterm red supporters -- or the PAD supporters -- or the Dem supporters .... but the masses will get the message that the reds with their PTP leadership have hurt the country and getting the message out repeatedly about the accomplishments of the Dems might get sink into some minds.

[animatic]

A GREAT line from the PM (whether you believe him or not!) ..... He needs to repeat it often and loudly, followed by highlighting the accomplishments of the Dems in real reform for the poor.

I would like to ask people to decide if they want a political party that tries to tackle their problems or a party that causes conflict and turns away from their problems or even makes them worse

Repeating often and loudly is some peoples idea of persuasion, not mine....

You could fool us...

[animatic]

Sadly the cost of food is not something directly controllable in any one country, the cost of transport always over rides the costs of production in setting market value. In this case rising oil costs is raising prices world wide, and of course the opposition never mentions the real reason is these external factors beyond government control.

It's always politically expedient to say 'the government not setting prices' they are making you go broke, as the blame. Never mentioning the last time PTP as PP were in control the completely, totally and utterly missed the world financial crisis taking hold, more interest in whitewashing Thaksin than dealing with economic necessities...

Can we expect and better performance from the 3rd string TRT as PTP than we expected and received from the 2nd string TRT as PPP???

Very doubtful.

[jdinasia]

Many politicians have swept into office on short campaign slogans in the West such as "Read My Lips, No New Taxes" etc

What Abhisit said was far slicker than a campaign slogan "Reds=PTP=Thaksin", and far less offensive whilst not even having to mention Thaksin. Abhisit does need to repeat it often followed by the reforms that the Dems have made.

[Lite Beer]

Two inflammatory posts have been deleted.