Lawmakers Welcome Thai Military's 'No-Coup' Pledge

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Lawmakers welcome military's 'no-coup' pledge

By The Nation

Politicians of all stripes are welcoming the military's pledge to not stage a coup or interfere with the elections.

Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan yesterday suggested that the top brass upgrade their verbal pledge into a social contract, saying he had seen coups being staged despite promises made earlier.

"I want the military to make a social contract so it is ensured that soldiers will stay in their barracks and refrain from tampering with balloting," he said.

If the soldiers just say that they will not stage a coup, but then manage to rig the balloting outcome, then there it is still military intervention in politics, he said.

Pheu Thai spokesman Promphong Nopparit said the no-coup pledge had improved the political climate, adding that he hoped the 2006 coup would be the last one. He said the military leaders should be commended for admitting that a power seizure could not solve political problems.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he believed the military leaders had made the pledge as a gesture to show that the electoral process would proceed without interruption.

"The armed forces have made it clear that the political system would function as sanctioned by the Constitution," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the military leaders were fed up with the coup rumours being spread by ill-intentioned people.

"I am surprised that certain individuals and parties have been spreading these rumours for the sake of portraying themselves as anti-coup advocates," he said, claiming that the campaign was actually a ploy to sway votes.

Anxiety about the political situation should dissipate soon, because the rumours were little more than fabrication and purely designed to smear the military for self-serving gains of certain people, he said.

People's Alliance for Democracy spokesman Panthep Pourpongpan said his movement was against forced power seizure. Instead, he said, the military should focus on pushing Cambodians off Thai soil near the Preah Vihear Temple.

He said the PAD will kick off its campaign to boycott the elections by casting "no votes" following the Songkran holiday.

Faction leader Suwat Liptapanlop said parties |concerned should gear |up for the upcoming |elections because |political problems should |be resolved via balloting.

-- The Nation 2011-04-07

[SomTumTiger]

I've been saying for a while that I think they days of the military coup are over - due in large part to the pervasive 24 hour world news machine that has would be coupmakers running for cover. Only time will tell if I am right.

[GarryP]

Meaningless. It is not the first time and it will not be the last that the men in uniform say something only to go back on their word when it suits them.