Thai Army Chief Prayuth Prefers Military Officer For Defence Minister

[webfact]

Prayuth prefers military officer for defence minister

By The Nation

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday broke his silence since the July 3 vote and commented on a number of political issues, including the Defence portfolio and his job security.

"The position of defence minister is not a candy for passing around," he said, alluding to wild rumours on candidates for the job.

Prayuth said the search for the new defence minister was not a topic for public discussion, hinting about closed-door talks between the military and the incoming government.

The new minister should

be known for high ethical standards and held in high esteem by the armed forces, he said, arguing that the office holder should be in a position to bring about an amicable atmosphere between the military and the government.

"I think it is too soon to comment on who would be fit for the job but I prefer a military officer because he could understand the feelings of fellow soldiers," he said.

Regardless which way the political wind would blow, the armed forces belong to the people, he said, urging all parties not to try and involve the

military in their political conflict.

"Soldiers and Thai citizens are indivisible and no one should try to drive a wedge in society," he said.

When asked about his job security under the Pheu Thai-led government, he said he had not lapsed in his performance.

"I do my job and I have not erred," he said, shrugging off speculation that he might be replaced.

He said he would not block the inquiry into the 91 deaths during the last year's riots. Facts will unfold and evidence will speak for itself, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-14

[norad]

There is a sure way to prevent military in Thailand to perform any coup in future

.......the new government should have a sign agreement with US , EU, Japanese , Chinese and neighbor countries that if there is a coup in Thailand they will ban those military personal that involve in the coup and all the puppet government set up by the coup including their immediate families from entering their countries for life.

[KhunBJ]

Been to and worked in many parts and countries of the world but have a hard time remembering a country where the Chief of the army is so much in the news as here.

[brianb1944]

There is a sure way to prevent military in Thailand to perform any coup in future

.......the new government should have a sign agreement with US , EU, Japanese , Chinese and neighbor countries that if there is a coup in Thailand they will ban those military personal that involve in the coup and all the puppet government set up by the coup including their immediate families from entering their countries for life.

What a totally unrealistic idea

[Trembly]

Been to and worked in many parts and countries of the world but have a hard time remembering a country where the Chief of the army is so much in the news as here.

Turkey springs to mind . . . US and British Generals have also appeared regularly in the news for their (not always politically compliant) commentary on how to un-<deleted> the adventures in Iraq and the 'Ghan.

[Britannia]

Been to and worked in many parts and countries of the world but have a hard time remembering a country where the Chief of the army is so much in the news as here.

Turkey springs to mind . . . US and British Generals have also appeared regularly in the news for their (not always politically compliant) commentary on how to un-<deleted> the adventures in Iraq and the 'Ghan.

A little bit different don’t you think.

US-British forces involved in action overseas,(The public needs to know why their boys are dieing in foreign lands) is not quit the same as what goes on here. Wonder why they need an army (defense) against who? The people? Maybe they should all join the police force

[Zolt]

Naming his price.

[hanuman1]

Regardless which way the political wind would blow, the armed forces belong to the people, he said....<snip>

I find this a bit puzzling and would like to know how he arrives at the conclusion that the armed forces belong to the people.

Is it because it is taxpayers' money (who hardly make up the entire population) which is funding it? Or is it because most of the armed forces is made up of 'the people'.

Upholding and defending 'the people' is not the prime directive of the armed forces and comes a pretty distant second to what actually is their main raison d'etre. Did the armed forces belong to 'the people' when they staged umpteen coups to throw out governments chosen by 'the people'?

Maybe the only thing that belongs to 'the people' are the bullets that get fired at them when they misbehave, although I've no doubt some here would like them to be charged a second time for those particular acquisitions.

I'm surprised he didn't go the whole hog and dazzle us with the undeniable truth, and somehow more-Thai: 'the armed forces belong to the people that own them'. That would have been far more diplomatic and far less puzzling, IMHO.

Edited July 14, 2011 by hanuman1

[a99az]

Keep the active members of the military out of government. They could pose a threat, same goes for the police.

[Trembly]

Been to and worked in many parts and countries of the world but have a hard time remembering a country where the Chief of the army is so much in the news as here.

Turkey springs to mind . . . US and British Generals have also appeared regularly in the news for their (not always politically compliant) commentary on how to un-&lt;deleted&gt; the adventures in Iraq and the 'Ghan.

A little bit different don't you think.

US-British forces involved in action overseas,(The public needs to know why their boys are dieing in foreign lands) is not quit the same as what goes on here. Wonder why they need an army (defense) against who? The people? Maybe they should all join the police force

My point is that Thailand is not the only country with Generals who are regularly in the news for 'talk out of turn' politically . . . by definition not the "on this day we did Operation Acme and it was a fantastic success hail democracy x12" kind of statement.

As for Turkish Generals . . . no not very different at all.

I assume that your question about why the Thai military exists is facetious . . .

[Trembly]

Keep the active members of the military out of government. They could pose a threat, same goes for the police.

Bit late for that . . . politically speaking there is no such thing as a retired member of the military or police in Thailand. They either hop onto the government bandwagon or stay somewhere in between that and the military power bandwagon. There are and have been more politicians who are retired military than you can shake a stick at.