'Special Way' To End Conflict Possible, Army Chief Says

By Khaosod English

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban receives donation during a rally in front of the Ministry of Finance, 2 April 2014

BANGKOK: -- The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army has suggested that an unspecified "special way" might be needed to end the current political turmoil.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha made the comment after meeting with Gen. Thanasak Patimaprakorn, Chief of the Defence Force, at 1st Infantry Division in Bangkok this morning.

"Every Thai must return to be the order-loving Thais, not the do-whatever-I-want Thais," Gen. Prayuth said, offering advice to anti- and pro-government protesters alike, "Today we have to be the Thais who have order, respect the laws, and sacrifice our personal interests for the sake of the national interests, to ensure that the Nation, the Religion, and the Monarchy will be safe".

He continued, "No one would win if they keep fighting each other like this. We would all be in trouble. That is why we must find the solution, either by legal or special ways".

Gen. Prayuth did not elaborate, and his words are bound to be interpreted by pro-government critics as a tacit threat to launch a military coup against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra; Gen. Prayuth has previously refused to rule out a possibility of a coup.

When asked about anti-government protesters' call for the army to "disobey" Ms. Yingluck and turn against her, Gen. Prayuth went silent for a while before replying that he could not provide an answer because it was a difficult question.

"Suppose you work in a company, and you decide to protest against the company owner," Gen. Prayuth asked the reporter instead, "Can you do that? If you don't agree with your supervisor, do you dare firing that person? If not, then you must do your duty. Whatever duty that has been entrusted to you, you must do it accordingly".

"I will not overtly criticise anyone, because I have to keep my status, so that I can work in every job," Gen. Prayuth insisted.

He similarly refused to say whether he agrees with the anti-government protesters' demand that Ms. Yingluck be replaced by an appointed Prime Minister, saying that he cannot side with either opinion.

When a reporter asked about the upcoming mass rally by the pro-government Redshirts on 5 April, Gen. Prayuth said things would be well if the demonstrators respect the laws, and he stressed that there is no plan to declare the martial laws to contain the protests.

The army chief also urged the anti-government protesters to refrain from any violent retaliation after their motorised convoy came under gunfire attack on the expressway yesterday.

"If the protesters spot the perpetrator, they should immediately inform the police," Gen. Prayuth, "Don't use any force in retaliation".

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1396435027&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2014-04-02

inform the police....it is the police..

The perpetrator is in Dubai there General. Get to the point, stop delaying and get kick out PTP once and for all.

Edited April 2, 201412 yr by gemini81

The military have no right to meddle in politics. Who the hell does Prayuth think he is? By rights, this monster should be stripped of his rank for his continued threats to launch a coup.

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The army chief also urged the anti-government protesters to refrain from any violent retaliation after their motorised convoy came under gunfire attack on the expressway yesterday.

"If the protesters spot the perpetrator, they should immediately inform the police," Gen. Prayuth, "Don't use any force in retaliation".

Well they haven't retaliated against any of the other attacks including butchered children.

But it is time they did retaliate with maximum prejudice, because it is the only language the red shirts understand.

The army felt justified to retaliate in 2010, so the PDRC should also have that right if they are not getting protection.

And don't even mention the police, they are involved with the red shirt attacks pal.

The general ia asking alot from thai people. He wants them to stop doing whatever they want. This is an impossibility since doing whatever they want is instillled in them as children and taught to them in schools and reinforced in them in the actions of their leaders. So it will never happen. Just look at this weeks news with the man who drove over the motorcycle and got out screaming how important he was so it was ok he did that. This is a prime example. The fighting will continue until they get tired of losing their families. Sad to say this as the general has good intentions. But its too late to teach thais to learn to think about others.

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The military have no right to meddle in politics. Who the hell does Prayuth think he is? By rights, this monster should be stripped of his rank for his continued threats to launch a coup.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Stop over-reacting.....

What do you expect them to do if this weekend ends up in pure carnage????

Sit back and watch so you can come on here and criticize them for allowing it to happen?

Talk about naive.

'Special way' - sounds ominous ...

the special way is just roll over and take it up the deriere again 5555 ,the ladyboy regiment will be called up for duty

Quote

"Every Thai must return to be the order-loving Thais, not the do-whatever-I-want Thais," Gen. Prayuth said, offering advice to anti- and pro-government protesters alike, "Today we have to be the Thais who have order, respect the laws, and sacrifice our personal interests for the sake of the national interests, to ensure that the Nation, the Religion, and the Monarchy will be safe".

Was that address to the anti- government protesters that have caused so much damaged to Bangkok and Thailand a whole?

Why did he not say that before, but only after all of these months of protests and killings.

I, for one, hold you, Gen. Prayuth and the whole of the Armed Forces of Thailand responsible for your inaction in this matter, not to remove the protesters from all the Streets in Thailand (to protect the last election help on Feb 2nd) (which cost Thailand 3.2 Billion Baht or more) and get it back to what is used to be "The Land of Smiles"

The Thai Armed Forces failed to deliver on their "Oath" to keep the Nation safe.

Shame on you all, the so called "Thai Armed Forces" .

Please give us back "The Land of Smiles"

The military have no right to meddle in politics. Who the hell does Prayuth think he is? By rights, this monster should be stripped of his rank for his continued threats to launch a coup.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

He has never threatened to coup, in fact he has said it would not be the answer!

Though if the UDD and PDRC keep pushing he may very well have to, or would you prefer civil war?

The military have no right to meddle in politics. Who the hell does Prayuth think he is? By rights, this monster should be stripped of his rank for his continued threats to launch a coup.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

How strange, UDD threaten to kidnap his children....and he's the monster.

"Suppose you work in a company, and you decide to protest against the company owner," Gen. Prayuth asked the reporter instead

What a berk! Thailand isn't a company even though Thaksin saw himself as self appointed CEO of Thailand.

Maybe if you want people to behave like employees, then how about a profit share scheme or similar, or let the people reap the rewards for their efforts, like free healthcare or welfare benefits, instead of stuffing it in the pockets of the elite? If these clowns from both sides, weren't so far removed from reality, they'd realise the people are fed up seeing the rich elites shovelling their money into their own bank accounts week in, week out. instead of putting it back into the country for the benefit of the people.

Prayuth has not sided with either side, and he has said so repeatedly, and does so again in this interview. He continues to stress that violence not be used. He has said that too repeatedly, and does so again in this interview. He has also stressed in other interviews that the law and the courts and the judicial system be respected. There is nothing controversial about any of that. It is, however, in the interests of Pheu Thai and Jatuporn and their supporters, that everything he says is somehow laced with double meaning. But they are merely projecting themselves when they do that. This situation would be truly precarious without the army's presence to protect the people and the judicial system. That's the reason why Ko Tee and the UDD haven't wrecked havoc. They know the army is there to protect the institutions of the law. For the vast majority of people in Bangkok, therefore, Prayuth is a reassuring presence. Without him, they'd likely pack their bags at the first sound of Jatuporn's bellowing voice.

What was it BUSH said?

"I'm gonna smoke him out" ............ That's the alternative, or SPECIAL way

Edited April 2, 201412 yr by Why ask

As i said, even the Army is divided and they don't know yet what comes next.

They will fail again anyway.

Edited April 2, 201412 yr by Mentors

["I will not overtly criticise anyone, because I have to keep my status, so that I can work in every job," Gen. Prayuth insisted."}

So, how would he characterise labelling the new UDD leader as a bandit?

["I will not overtly criticise anyone, because I have to keep my status, so that I can work in every job," Gen. Prayuth insisted."}

So, how would he characterise labelling the new UDD leader as a bandit?

Truthful.

As i said, even the Army is divided and they don't know yet what comes next.

They will fail again anyway.

The army is divided is it?

Well that is the first declaration I have heard anywhere.

Please furnish us with some specific news reports directing to this announcement.

Or are you just another armchair expert that knows everything that has not yet been announced in the media.

Maybe you should be a journalist with such powers to know everything that is going on behind closed doors.

The army in Thailand will never be divided, they are trained to uphold the interests of the nation, with the first duty to the King, the second duty to the people, and the third duty to the government, and that goes for every single person in the military.

Any dissent will be court Martial as it will be seen as going against his majesty the king, and that will NOT BE TOLERATED.

So dream on.

The military have no right to meddle in politics. Who the hell does Prayuth think he is? By rights, this monster should be stripped of his rank for his continued threats to launch a coup.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Stop over-reacting.....

What do you expect them to do if this weekend ends up in pure carnage????

Sit back and watch so you can come on here and criticize them for allowing it to happen?

Talk about naive.

I think he typed an extra "O" in his name as well

The perpetrator is in Dubai there General. Get to the point, stop delaying and get kick out PTP once and for all.

order INTERPOL to arrest him and bring him back to his beloved Thailand and loving supporters.

I am sure frizzie boppe, and a few others will be there to welcome him

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

the special way is just roll over and take it up the deriere again 5555 ,the ladyboy regiment will be called up for duty

why do you say that? Is your lady boy telling you things we should all know?

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

Quote

"Every Thai must return to be the order-loving Thais, not the do-whatever-I-want Thais," Gen. Prayuth said, offering advice to anti- and pro-government protesters alike, "Today we have to be the Thais who have order, respect the laws, and sacrifice our personal interests for the sake of the national interests, to ensure that the Nation, the Religion, and the Monarchy will be safe".

Was that address to the anti- government protesters that have caused so much damaged to Bangkok and Thailand a whole?

Why did he not say that before, but only after all of these months of protests and killings.

I, for one, hold you, Gen. Prayuth and the whole of the Armed Forces of Thailand responsible for your inaction in this matter, not to remove the protesters from all the Streets in Thailand (to protect the last election help on Feb 2nd) (which cost Thailand 3.2 Billion Baht or more) and get it back to what is used to be "The Land of Smiles"

The Thai Armed Forces failed to deliver on their "Oath" to keep the Nation safe.

Shame on you all, the so called "Thai Armed Forces" .

Please give us back "The Land of Smiles"

the only thing you will be holding mate is your "own"

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

The military have no right to meddle in politics. Who the hell does Prayuth think he is? By rights, this monster should be stripped of his rank for his continued threats to launch a coup.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

He has never threatened to coup, in fact he has said it would not be the answer!

Though if the UDD and PDRC keep pushing he may very well have to, or would you prefer civil war?

both sides need a coup so they can blame the army for the rice farmers not getting paid

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

Don't you just like this photo of Suthep.

Don't you just like this photo of Suthep.

I'm not really into photos of blokes.

I like Prayuth he talks a lot of sense and something needs to be done to change the current impasse, I cant possibly think what the "special way" might be but I would say this, the politicians have had a go and dont seem to be up to the job and some say, although I could not really comment on its validity, that some politicians have taken advantage of their positions to the detrement of country as a whole. Prayuth does sound like he puts the country first so perhaps the wannabe leaders of the nation should take note before they cause more mayhem which does nothing more than embarass the country abroad and in short order may rule out any chance they ever had of running the country again, if you get my drift.

Edited April 2, 201412 yr by nong38

The military have no right to meddle in politics. Who the hell does Prayuth think he is? By rights, this monster should be stripped of his rank for his continued threats to launch a coup.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

He may be the only thing left if the redshirts escalate their terrorist campaign

That is who (the hell) Prayuth is

The Thai general pontificates about returning to order, obeying lawn but the when it comes to Yingluck he says it's a difficult question.

I like Prayuth he talks a lot of sense and something needs to be done to change the current impasse, I cant possibly think what the "special way" might be but I would say this, the politicians have had a go and dont seem to be up to the job and some say, although I could not really comment on its validity, that some politicians have taken advantage of their positions to the detrement of country as a whole. Prayuth does sound like he puts the country first so perhaps the wannabe leaders of the nation should take note before they cause more mayhem which does nothing more than embarass the country abroad and in short order may rule out any chance they ever had of running the country again, if you get my drift.

If Thailand is not already in a constitutional void it is heading for one. It could be argued that it is already being governed in a "special way". I think that what he is saying is that if both sides could agree on a way forward that the pothole in the democratic road can be stepped over in the national interest. If they cannot agree there are still institutions and official with residual constitutional roles that would have to fulfill those roles.

Prayuth has defined responsibilities - if there is not a recognizable government formed the exercise of his responsibility may include stabilizing Thailand until a new elected government is formed that will operate in accordance with the constitution.

carrot and stick

respect to Prayuth