Thai Govt Won't Be Overthrown, No Coup: Military Commanders

[webfact]

'No coup'

By Panya Thiosangwan

The Nation

Top brass including General Songkitti declare govt won't be overthrown Supreme commander warns: any military unit leaving barracks without orders will be charged with treason

In an unprecedented move, top commanders came out yesterday to declare there would definitely be no military overthrow of the government.

"We ask you not to believe the rumours that soldiers will stage a coup. The Thai Armed Forces strictly abide by the Constitution under constitutional monarchy. Soldiers will not get involved in any political affairs," supreme commander General Songkitti Jaggabatara told a news conference together with the chiefs of the three armed branches.

He also warned that any military unit moving out of its barracks without orders would be charged with treason.

"I insist that all the armed-force commanders will not get involved. The public can be assured that the military does not interfere with politics. We know our duty - what to do and not to do. Any unit that makes a force movement without orders will be regarded as committing treason," he said.

"There have been such rumours from time to time over the past four to five years. Some people spread the rumours although they knew nothing or little about it. But when someone well informed denied the rumours, people were not convinced."

Songkitti also dismissed rumours that the military was pressuring certain politicians or political parties in a bid to influence the result of the upcoming general election.

"If you are pressured by any soldier, please let us know and we will investigate the complaint," he said, adding that any soldier with political ambitions would be encouraged to leave the service.

The supreme commander had called the news conference "to curb the public confusion" at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters after meeting with top military commanders. "Please stop citing the military [for political advantage]. Do not push the Armed Forces away from the people. We prefer to focus our work on developing the country in a constructive way. We hope that from now on there will be no reports that will separate the public from the Armed Forces," he said.

Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Navy chief Admiral Kamthon Pumhirun, and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Itthiporn Supawong, as well as Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, who represented the national police chief, were also present at the news conference.

The Army chief has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of a coup under his leadership. There were also occasions recently when Prayuth appeared annoyed after being pestered by reporters' questions about speculation of coup. Once he even urged them not to ask him such questions again.

The most powerful of the Armed Forces, the Army was involved in most of the country's successful coups and abortive coup attempts in the past - most recently the bloodless power seizure against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2006.

Politicians, mostly from the opposition, have talked about rumours of attempts to prevent a new election taking place - something they term a "silent coup". This is coupled with a call by some yellow-shirt leaders for a "political vacation" in which a royally appointed prime minister heads a special government for three years to "clean the house" before an elected government is allowed to resume running the country.

The speculation of a coup has gained weight after some reliable figures such as election commissioner Sodsri Satayathum mentioned a plot to stage a coup to prevent a new election being held.

For some observers, yesterday's rare move by the top brass did not just deny rumours of a coup, but also showed strong unity among the Armed Forces' commanders. The presence of all top commanders could boost the military's bargaining power against politicians and show their readiness to work with whichever political party wins the next election.

Yesterday's event reminded political observers of a strong military presence in mid-October 2008. General Anupong Paochinda, who was then the Army chief, called a televised news conference asking then-prime minister Somchai Wongsawat to resign after a bloody crackdown on yellow-shirt protesters. The call was ignored but Somchai, who is Thaksin's brother-in-law, had to step down shortly afterwards when his People Power Party was disbanded by court order for electoral fraud.

-- The Nation 2011-04-06

[animatic]

Ah, it's time for the weekly denial of impending coup lecture.

[hammered]

Wonder who is spreading the rumours. It sure aint the military

[webfact]

Supreme commander dismisses coup rumor

BANGKOK, 6 April 2011 (NNT) – Supreme Commander General Songkitti Jaggabatara has downplayed another wave of rumor that the military will orchestrate a coup d’état before the upcoming general election.

General Songkitti asked the media and people not to panic with the coup rumor because the Thai armed forces are under the constitution, underlying the democratic system with the constitutional monarchy; therefore, the Thai military will not violate freedom of people.

The supreme commander confirmed that people can rest assured that the military has no involvement in the national politics and will perform its duties for the sake of Thai people.

General Songkitti added that any unauthorized troop mobilization is considered as a rebellion while people are encouraged to file complaints if finding military officers meddling in politics, and investigation will be carried out.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship Jatuporn Prompan commented that before all the previous coups d’etat, military leaders always came out to confirm that there would be no coup.

-- NNT 2011-04-06

[janverbeem]

The supreme commander confirmed that people can rest assured that the military has no involvement in the national politics

That must have changed overnight then.

[Lodestone]

In an unprecedented move, top commanders came out yesterday to declare there would definitely be no military overthrow of the government.

Of course, by 'the government' they mean only the current one, with their assurance becoming void should the government change following an election.

[Sunderland]

Nation Breaking News: Thailand to become hub of no meaningful action

[jayboy]

The supreme commander confirmed that people can rest assured that the military has no involvement in the national politics

That must have changed overnight then.

He knows it is a lie.We know it is a lie.The Thai People knows it is a lie.

[wintermute]

What he means is "we won't start a coup as long as our side wins and we get adequate pay off"

[geriatrickid]

The threat of a coup undermines PM Abhisit, the military's chosen one. denial of a coup supports Abhisit.

Now, if PM Abhisit is turfed out by the electorate, I'm sure the military will act in the nation's best interest..........

[hardy1943]

The supreme commander confirmed that people can rest assured that the military has no involvement in the national politics

That must have changed overnight then.

They will never change. Same as Thailand be never a true Democracy. All one ever gets is empty promises but that very much applies to any country.

[theoldgit]

The Navy will be leading the next coup, they will have their submarines up the Chao Phraya River as quick as a flash.

[dunkin2012]

The Navy will be leading the next coup, they will have their submarines up the Chao Phraya River as quick as a flash.

which one of the 5 here is Navy?

Edited April 6, 2011 by dunkin2012

[Crushdepth]

Ah, it's time for the weekly denial of impending coup lecture.

Seems to be daily at present.

[eagleflyinghigh]

My respect for the commanders making such statements, but this should not be necessary in a developed democracy.

The necessity for such denials would be reason enough to dismantle the armed forces altogether as they are not here to serve the people but to protect the ruling elite.

[dunkin2012]

My respect for the commanders making such statements, but this should not be necessary in a developed democracy.

The necessity for such denials would be reason enough to dismantle the armed forces altogether as they are not here to serve the people but to protect the ruling elite.

humm................ Have anywhere been a similar practice like this one?....

[chachachacha]

And so it begins as it ended JUNTA governent They have ruled since the coup that taken out the Thaksin government & what they are saying is they are not going to give up power . All the weapons they suddenly want proves this.

They are no better than Gaddaffi & his mob , but then I have heard that the terrorist that are fighting Gaddaffi are worse than Gaddaffi.

The Junta murdered it's own people . Says it all

[exbelg]

aha, soldiers, not directly the brightest under us, leading a coup to overthrown the government...

Los, right ...land of st....s

[Crushdepth]

I think they've been successfully played by the opposition here. Coup rumours are obviously ridiculous at present. The opposition is trying to back them into a corner making public statements now in case they 'change their mind' further down the track.

Which they probably will do, if they next government gets out of hand.

[dunkin2012]

I think they've been successfully played by the opposition here. Coup rumours are obviously ridiculous at present. The opposition is trying to back them into a corner making public statements now in case they 'change their mind' further down the track.

Which they probably will do, if they next government gets out of hand.

They should be silent ......instead...

Playing the same game as Red is directing them...

[theoldgit]

The Navy will be leading the next coup, they will have their submarines up the Chao Phraya River as quick as a flash.

which one of the 5 here is Navy?

Navy chief Admiral Kamthon Pumhirun, the one in the Navy uniform.

[SteeleJoe]

The Navy will be leading the next coup, they will have their submarines up the Chao Phraya River as quick as a flash.

Actually, the Navy has a history of being the more democratic (small "d") branch of the military -- which is whay they were neutered by the Army decades ago. They haven't a chance in h**l of taking control of anything, let alone this country.

But I know you were joking.

[theoldgit]

But I know you were joking.

Well spotted sir, I thought my reference to submarines was the clue

[SteeleJoe]

OK, mea culpa. It was obvious and maybe in an effort to show off I looked like a humorless prat who was stating the obvious at the end.

I may be a prat, but I'm not humorless.

[Foggy Bottom]

The supreme commander had called the news conference "to curb the public confusion" at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters after meeting with top military commanders. "Please stop citing the military [for political advantage]. Do not push the Armed Forces away from the people. We prefer to focus our work on developing the country in a constructive way. We hope that from now on there will be no reports that will separate the public from the Armed Forces," he said.

Hmmm - has no-one told him that developing the country is not the job of the military regardless of how it is approached. The military's job is to develop their serving personnel, the military's abilities in the field, and above all to defend the nation from military threats (which does include internal threats of an armed and military-like nature, when instructed to do so by elected government).

At best, the military's "development of the country", by constitution, is restricted to assisting and rebuilding after national disaster (e.g. the tsunami, earthquakes, floods, etc), or to providing otherwise unaffordable manpower and equipment for projects such as building roads or school/medical buildings in remote locations (using and providing practical experience for the engineers branches).

Although I would hope General Songkitti's statement intended the meaning of my second paragraph above, I fear the top brass have got too many interests in the political arena. There is a parallel in the UK and the USA - In the UK, the armed services prefer a Conservative government to a Labour one, and in the US (although I cannot remember which) the military has a long preference for one particular party.

In Thailand though, unlike in the UK and USA, the military is willing to take direct action to ensure their party of choice gets into power. However, when they did so in 2006, it was with condoning from a very large proportion of the native AND foreigner resident population. In fact, many who use this forum had been calling for them to oust Thaksin for a lengthy time, and many others had been observing that the arrival of a coup was becoming inevitable and the only sane method left to change the PM and ruling party.

[SteeleJoe]

There is a parallel in the UK and the USA - In the UK, the armed services prefer a Conservative government to a Labour one, and in the US (although I cannot remember which) the military has a long preference for one particular party.

Not much of a parallel: while it may be true to some extent that such preferences exist, I feel confident in saying that both countries have armed forces which are (for the most part) appropriately apolitical and commanded by a civilian government -- in both word and deed.

None of that has ever been true of Thailand.

[Ricardo]

And so it begins as it ended JUNTA governent They have ruled since the coup that taken out the Thaksin government & what they are saying is they are not going to give up power . All the weapons they suddenly want proves this.

They are no better than Gaddaffi & his mob , but then I have heard that the terrorist that are fighting Gaddaffi are worse than Gaddaffi.

The Junta murdered it's own people . Says it all

"They have ruled since the coup that taken out the Thaksin government"

So you believe that the PPP-led coalition-governments, of PM-Samak & PM-Somchai, were somehow tools of the military, rather than 'Dear Leader' ? Not sure that I agree with you on that.

[diehard60]

Ah, it's time for the weekly denial of impending coup lecture.

"We ask you not to believe the rumours that soldiers will stage a coup. The Thai Armed Forces strictly abide by the Constitution under constitutional monarchy. Soldiers will not get involved in any political affairs," supreme commander General Songkitti Jaggabatara told a news conference together with the chiefs of the three armed branches.

Well I wonder what happened the last coup? Why was the military uot there then? I guess we are getting lied to AGAIN.

Just wait the coup is on the way.

[jimbeam1]

Ah no military coup. So it's all going to be legal and above board then? Of course until the cap don't fit.

jb1

[Deeral]

they would say that wouldn't they?