Thai armed forces on defensive in mounting political crisis

[Dogmatix]

Good idea but provincial governors report directly to the interior minister who is also party leader of PT. So how could they report activities of red shirt militants?

Time for elected provincial governors.

[surangw]

will they be issued ammunition this time around ?

[VegasVic]

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I actually think the Army are playing this perfectly. If they come out the UDD will use it as an excuse and cry coup. If they stay away the PDRC will claim the Army are not defending the people, as is their stated duty. However the Army are stating this is a civilian matter, they will not (yet) intervene. They are putting a huge amoount of pressure on the Police. If the police do not start active investigations, and stop the almost nightly gun and grenade attacks; they will lose face. The Thai people will lose any faith in them, they may have left. This would leave the army as the only viable option. It would also be less of a risk after the police have failed. The UDD cannot say the army is not acting with restraint. The PDRC cannot claim the army should have acted. They are doing exactly what they should be doing under the constitution and Thai law.

You are correct, the Thai military has very few options at present and a coup this time around would not only risk business investment and tourisim in Thailand, but very possibly cause a break in the ranks within the military. If the police can not round up the insurrection leaders and jail them, then there is a possibility that large groups of red shirts will eventually descend upon Krung Thep and take matters into their own hands (a situation that nobody wants), lets hope the police can diffuse the situation with aggressive non leathal force over the next few weeks

[noitom]

Shooting, firing grenades and killing people in Thailand are acts of terror. It is a job for the army of a nation. He is clearly turning his back on the nation and hoping that they "work things out." He is not committed to safeguarding the nation from acts of terror.

[Chris Lawrence]

What a bunch of sly dogs; the army is waiting for the right moment to jump in and say "well the police have lost control and we need to protect the Thai people".

They appear also to support with the PM. Maybe PM is also a good poker player?

But aren't the police hogged tied by the courts on what they can and can't do?

Very much a Thai way of doing things, letting the chickens come home to rouste before anyone acts. Or sit on the river bank long enough and watch your enemy float past. I wonder which side will float past when the army takes control? Suthep?

[slipperylobster]

Come on Army, you are long overdue.

Get rid of this incompetent government and send Sutherp and the protesters home.

They have achieved what they came out for.

Now is time of tranquillity and serious political thinking and reforms.

No harm trying, isn't it?

Soldiers do as they are told. Do not expect independant action...

[icommunity]

Come on Army, you are long overdue.

Get rid of this incompetent government and send Sutherp and the protesters home.

They have achieved what they came out for.

Now is time of tranquillity and serious political thinking and reforms.

No harm trying, isn't it?

Soldiers do as they are told. Do not expect independant action...

Told by who? To do what?

[Stan7444]

I actually think the Army are playing this perfectly. If they come out the UDD will use it as an excuse and cry coup. If they stay away the PDRC will claim the Army are not defending the people, as is their stated duty. However the Army are stating this is a civilian matter, they will not (yet) intervene. They are putting a huge amoount of pressure on the Police. If the police do not start active investigations, and stop the almost nightly gun and grenade attacks; they will lose face. The Thai people will lose any faith in them, they may have left. This would leave the army as the only viable option. It would also be less of a risk after the police have failed. The UDD cannot say the army is not acting with restraint. The PDRC cannot claim the army should have acted. They are doing exactly what they should be doing under the constitution and Thai law.

Absolutely right on the mark. Who in their right mind would wish for a coup in any country. That is not even an option and this is the 21st Century and resolving political problems in a democratic country is done through elections and not by a minority mob of people who want to throw out the votes of 14 million people and instead appoint someone to run this country who has not had one single vote cast for them and for an undetermined period of time. There are not even any detailed proposal on the table from these protestor leaders on how their non-elected committee would operate. How can anyone trust them to do what they say when Suthep and his mob have promised so many things and never kept their word?. Sounds more like a Nazi takeover with the outcome totally unpredictable. Don't think many would still like to live in a country with "suspended" democracy and military rule.