Thai Army sends out vague signals on coup

[Lancelot]

If I were PTP I would quietly welcome a coup. 12 months or so military rule, get them to sort out the rice mountain, pay the farmers, remove the fuel subsidy, sort out the water management, infrastructure etc. THEN win the next election by a landslide and back to the feeding trough. Business as usual! Just a thought, Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You are a natural politician my friend

Nice thinking out of the box solution

[ikke]

If I were PTP I would quietly welcome a coup. 12 months or so military rule, get them to sort out the rice mountain, pay the farmers, remove the fuel subsidy, sort out the water management, infrastructure etc. THEN win the next election by a landslide and back to the feeding trough. Business as usual! Just a thought, Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes, that's what will happen, and that's exactly what PTP wants and we can't blame them.

You forget one thing, ones the army is in charge , they should jail Suthep for the rest of his days.

[chuenyongman]

The "model" ought to buy a hair brush and her chest is as flat as a lady boy's.

[ikke]

The reds ready to split Thailand in two pieces...I think they overestimate their popularity...

Its not the reds, Suthep started the splitting, or did you wake up this morning from a long sleep ?

[ginjag]

Roll them tanks out chaps.

Btw, what a horrible pose by the 'model' -- was she trying for the alien or ghost look? If the point was to look scarier than the soldiers, s/he pulled it off!

She was one of the Zombies from Michael Jacksons-"THRILLER" dance.

Edited January 9, 2014 by ginjag

[JingerBen]

Quiet frankly the whole shebang is Vague, we started out with a protest against the Amnesty Bill ending up with a caretaker government, elections in Feb, a boycotting democrat party, Rice farmers protesting , Suthep protesting (Still), people being shot and Thaskin Shinawatra dinning at the Hilton in Dubai, no wounder the Army is vague , trying to fathom the next move is like winning lotto ,now that's much easier.

Vague?

Thaksin Shinawatra is still in power and that is what is driving the protests.

What is vague about that?

It's crystal-clear and everything else is just smoke 'n mirrors.

[bkkgooner]

A coup would result in an uprising by red shirts and as much as I despise the res shirts I would have to see it would be fully justified. The army are smart enough to know to back off this fight as like all of Suthep's days of victories so far it will amount to nothing but a big wet fart.

[Fookhaht]

"In a statement, the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship also laid out plans to be executed in the event of a military coup. The plans call on the Redshirts to help escort the Prime Minister to a "more secure" location in the North or Northeastern region, establish a government in exile, gather at their local police stations, and stage protests in front of the military bases in the provinces."

A prelude to an ugly protracted civil war, and eventual split up of the country. Sad days for Thailand.

Possibly the only foreigners welcome in what was once Thailand will be those in Isaan or the North, given the xenophobic rantings of Der Fuehrer Suthep.

Edited January 9, 2014 by Fookhaht

[Zolt]

A coup has felt inevitable for weeks. If it is going to happen it may as well happen before the 13th, rather than people having to go through all that standstill annoyance.

I have a feeling that this whole circus will go on for weeks and weeks yet.

The army big wigs actually want democracy to fail and the situation to degenerate into chaos, so they can be seen as savior when they step in.

Feb 02 elections will take place, and will fail to produce a government, because too many seats are left vacant. Maybe even another round of by-elections will fail to do that. All the while protests will go on and will make everyone miserable. The anti-democracy crowd actually want this to happen, so they can argue that democracy has failed completely and advance their own agenda, with more unelected sources of power and less elected ones. They might even get rid of the universal suffrage altogether the way things are going.

[ratcatcher]

The "model" ought to buy a hair brush and her chest is as flat as a lady boy's.

You did, of course, think that the model might indeed be a katoey, albeit an ugly one?

[silent]

A coup has felt inevitable for weeks. If it is going to happen it may as well happen before the 13th, rather than people having to go through all that standstill annoyance.

That would make it a surprise. Awesome, a real coup.

[AbuBacon]

You guys really don't get it. The army have already decided to back the winning side... And yes that will be the reds. For now they are playing games. The days of 200 Chinese families ruling Thailand are numbered. If I was a thai I would burn the Chinese to the ground. Starting with Singh's beer and cp. Soon to come. The people will win this one. No civil war...don't worry...just a few more weeks and it will be game over for the fascists.

Sent from my Lenovo A516 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

The reds ready to split Thailand in two pieces...I think they overestimate their popularity...

Its not the reds, Suthep started the splitting, or did you wake up this morning from a long sleep ?

Perhaps he woke up earlier when Yingluck tried to illegally ramrod an amnesty bill through for the red shirt financier, her brother, which started all of this.

[anon467367354]

"Meanwhile, the official leadership of the Redshirts has encouraged its supporters to be on alert lest the army launches another coup against an elected government."

are the Redshirts going to take on the army?

[anon467367354]

You guys really don't get it. The army have already decided to back the winning side... And yes that will be the reds. For now they are playing games. The days of 200 Chinese families ruling Thailand are numbered. If I was a thai I would burn the Chinese to the ground. Starting with Singh's beer and cp. Soon to come. The people will win this one. No civil war...don't worry...just a few more weeks and it will be game over for the fascists. Sent from my Lenovo A516 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I don't think this is about the Chinese unless the majority of MP's are Chinese and wanting to bring back their corrupt Chinese self exiled

fugitive leader and dismiss all the crimes he's committed. But I could be wrong.

[tomloughney]

remove the fuel subsidy

What fuel subsidy? I did not know Thailand had a fuel subsidy.

[ratcatcher]

remove the fuel subsidy

What fuel subsidy? I did not know Thailand had a fuel subsidy.

Spelling error. That should read "Fool subsidy".

[Somtamnication]

THAT does not look like a model, more like an inflatable doll!

[ratcatcher]

You guys really don't get it. The army have already decided to back the winning side... And yes that will be the reds. For now they are playing games. The days of 200 Chinese families ruling Thailand are numbered. If I was a thai I would burn the Chinese to the ground. Starting with Singh's beer and cp. Soon to come. The people will win this one. No civil war...don't worry...just a few more weeks and it will be game over for the fascists. Sent from my Lenovo A516 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Sent by a guy using a Chinese computer over Chinese owned airwaves.

Composed under the influence of Chinese opium I should think.

[Old Man River]

The army are in a difficult postion but its all from their own making back in 2006. karmas a b****

I disagree. They are not in a difficult position. They will protect the Monarchy and they will keep order in the country if the police cannot. That's it.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Tchooptip]

THAT does not look like a model, more like an inflatable doll!

Then inflatable doll ...not inflated enough!

[Prbkk]

I would be more concerned about a mutiny if a coup is attempted. It is conceivable that the majority of ranks will not support a coup. Keep in mind the changed demographics of the military. Over 40% of the army is comprised of conscripts with the majority from regions that support the PTP.

Of the remaining 60% who are considered "full time" at least half are also made up of people who would lean towards the PTP. A great many officers know that they cannot advance as long as the elite units and general staff are in the way. Those elite units are comprised mainly of personnel who can be considered anti PTP and were the units used to crush the Redshirt protests after regular units hesitated.

I think this time, a coup will not be as easy and not so bloodless.

Indeed, indeed....beware the "watermelons". The last thing Thailand needs is a factionalised army. But that is exactly what would happen

[Maipenrai007]

To Coup, or not to Coup!!!!

[beowolf2012]

whatever you think about this government then this government elected by the people. So topple this government or put them out of power ahead of time will of course be the same as a coup.
so who makes the coup opesitionslederen or his lamb. If they succeed then it is a coup without the military has been mixed into the problems.

[JosteinSetsaas]

What is not only rumors, is that care taker PM Yingluck Shinawatra is among the nominated for The Nobel Pice Price for 2013? Is someone of you, see qualification criteria for naming your candidate, today ready to propose Mr. Suthep? The price being awarded by Norway, myself a Norwegian, and by so I encourage all the Qualified to support Yingluck's nomination.

[GeorgeO]

If I were PTP I would quietly welcome a coup. 12 months or so military rule, get them to sort out the rice mountain, pay the farmers, remove the fuel subsidy, sort out the water management, infrastructure etc. THEN win the next election by a landslide and back to the feeding trough. Business as usual! Just a thought, Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If there is indeed a coup, you will not see PTP members for dust.

Many of these people will already have plans in place for exiting Thailand since they are aware that once the auditors get in, and the truth behind the cost of this government on the Thai economy is known, there will be warrants out for their arrest.

As for winning the next election, most of them are going to find themselves disqualified after the forthcoming court ruling.

[Scamper]

Khaosod editorials are generally entertaining, but the last sentence of this article is a doozy - a real John le Carre Berlin bunker concept - inspired by the busy thinking processes of the UDD.

[rambling]

I see no point in a coup against a caretaker government ahead of elections. But come February 2, when the country is in mess and voting can't go ahead normally then military intervention to restore order and "provide a solution" in the interim as the previous government role is kind of over makes more sense to me.

[flyingdoc]

The model is as unattractive as the thought of a coup is becoming!

[webfact]

Gen. Yuthasak affirms no cause for a coup

BANGKOK, 9 January 2014 (NNT) — Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapha has opened his house to well-wishers who came to wish him a happy birthday - also affirming that there is no rational cause for a coup.

Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapha held an open house on January 8 in honor of his own birthday to allow well-wishers to come and wish him a happy birthday.

The general earlier on the day sought an audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari for royal blessing on his birthday. He said the Princess had graciously given him a breakfast.

Gen. Yuthasak stated that, on the occasion of his birthday this year, he would like to see peace in the country, and would prefer to see negotiations take place - whether they be in private or in public.

When asked if a coup d’etat was imminent, the general stated that there is no cause for a coup; however, it would depend on future circumstances. The army, he said, has a duty to maintain peace in the nation and protect the monarchy.


-- NNT 2014-01-09