Army 'needs martial law to shield itself'
Pakorn Puengnetr
The Nation

Prayut

BANGKOK: -- Current power structure puts too much pressure on Prayut: academic

The military is expected to have increased political roles in this new year although there is a unity problem among top commanders in the Army, according to sources familiar with the armed forces.

Observers say martial law - imposed shortly before the coup in May - is likely to be retained for a long time, to help ensure that the military will have the power to deal with unexpected problems when they arise.

"There are uncertainties in the Army. The decision-making is done from many sources of power in the Army. So it is inevitable for martial law to be retained. The military needs some tool to deal with problems that may happen in the future," said one source, a high-ranking officer in the armed forces.

Wanwichit Boonprong, an expert in security affairs from Rangsit University, said the military would continue to consolidate its power this year, and martial law would serve as its "fangs and claws".

He said arrangements had been made after the coup to increase the military's power. These included the junta's orders to expand the martial court's authority to try cases involving lese majeste and war-grade weapons, as well as the upgrade of military districts into military circles to allow increased roles in civilian affairs.

Wanwichit, who lectures at Rangsit University's College of Public Administration and Political Science, said he expected many military commanders, as well as senior bureaucrats, to become senators as a new constitution is likely to require that members of the upper house are appointed, instead of elected.

He said a situation like this is similar to the one ahead of the Black May incident in 1992, when the military dominated politics and served as mediator between the elite and a new power clique.

"The military should be able to control the [political arena] in 2015. They will continue to get cooperation from many sectors," the academic said.

For him, a key weakness in the junta is the fact that all the problems will push towards General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as head of the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

"The problem is that the focus is too much on the prime minister, particularly the issues that affect security. The prime minister's mood changes quite easily and this makes it easy for him to be the target of criticism," Wanwichit said. "Without relegation of power to other people, particularly over security matters, there will be negative consequences on the government and the Army."

The academic added that Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr, who also serves as deputy defence minister in Prayut's government, needed to be given more responsibility on security matters.

The military source, who requested anonymity, said the current Army might seem to be united but in fact potential conflict is brewing under the surface. This is because the Army is now controlled by three different and powerful figures.

The first person is Prayut, who was the previous Army chief and now serves as prime minister and leader of the NCPO. The second is General Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister and defence minister who commands Prayut's respect as his former boss and senior at the military academy. The third figure is Udomdej, the current Army chief.

Unlike his predecessors, Udomdej also serves in the government as deputy defence minister, and therefore is obliged to follow orders from the prime minister and the defence minister, who are his former boss in the Army and his ex-senior in the military school respectively.

The sources warned that conflict could stem from a contest to become the next Army chief between two leading candidates - Prayut's brother General Preecha Chan-o-cha and General Teerachai Nakwanich - who are both assistant Army commanders-in-chief. Teerachai is Udomdej's former classmate from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School.

Preecha is from Class 15 while Teerachai is from Class 14.

The Army source said the Army chief would feel uneasy having to choose between his former classmate and the brother of his boss to become his successor

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Army-needs-martial-law-to-shield-itself-30251125.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-03

If it's not bad enough this bloke with the mood swings taking over the via the barrel of a gun now we have the military in possible conflict with itself .

As for the army needing martial law to shield itself that's just another excuse to keep the boot on the throats of the thai people while they rort the system to keep the true peoples government out.

It is somewhat merciful that most Thais have a very limited understanding of world history. Otherwise they would all be freaking out.

Don't be surprise if Thailand does not become a military state. Or maybe it has already.

Oh, dear. He has to choose between his brother and his buddy. How stressful that must be. Maybe everyone should just back off and give the poor guy room to breathe.

So martial law is for the benefit of the military not the country ?

" Unexpected problems that may arise " can cover simply anything that's not approved of.

If the PM is under too much pressure it's self inflicted injury as he didn't seek the role and the pressure, he took it.

So martial law is for the benefit of the military not the country ?

" Unexpected problems that may arise " can cover simply anything that's not approved of.

If the PM is under too much pressure it's self inflicted injury as he didn't seek the role and the pressure, he took it.

I wish he had not taken the role on, would have been much better if he stepped back and let the entire population, including the north-eastern people, turn on the Shins.

It was beginning to happen and would have been much more fun to watch.

(I truly believe the main reason the coup happened was because of the redshirts killing innocent people on the streets)

He needs to focus on reviving the economy. Or he'll go down in history as just another general who has taken power, since 1932.

Oh, dear. He has to choose between his brother and his buddy. How stressful that must be. Maybe everyone should just back off and give the poor guy room to breathe.

Why? How much room or time does a person need to set the country right? Anyone with an ounce of sense knows what is happening so using the same old I need time to make change happen doesn't cut it with people.

The holding on to power and keeping peoples freedom and liberties at bay is all to do with massing as much power as possible, changing the way politics can happen here, so there will never be a 'true democracy' in Thailand

Sad.

So martial law is for the benefit of the military not the country ?

" Unexpected problems that may arise " can cover simply anything that's not approved of.

If the PM is under too much pressure it's self inflicted injury as he didn't seek the role and the pressure, he took it.

I wish he had not taken the role on, would have been much better if he stepped back and let the entire population, including the north-eastern people, turn on the Shins.

It was beginning to happen and would have been much more fun to watch.

(I truly believe the main reason the coup happened was because of the redshirts killing innocent people on the streets)

Mike, there is none so blind as he who will not see.

All your posts offer excuses for this pathetic farce which gets more pathetic by the day.

There never will be a better way to allow the Thai people to work out how their democracy will work than letting them elect their own governments.

All this is doing is keeping the military and their masters in power at the expense of the people.

Your feeble attempts to bring the "shins" into every post as some sort of excuse to justify this ongoing (20 coups) interference by the military in Thailands burgeoning democracy are transparent.

Read your history.

All of Thailand looks shaky right now, and article reinforces that. As much as the Army wants the Shinawatras out, they are making it easier for them.

The worst ship afloat is a partnership and P.M. Prayut - O has only reached the tip of the iceberg, wait till the others work out what's in it for me, that's when the fur will fly.

I had been under the impression that martial law was imposed to protect the country from upheaval,or civil strife. While this itself is debatable, this article now tells us that martial law is needed to somehow " protect the army".. From what, the article does not tell us, though it does tell us there may be rivalaries wthin the military which could lead to conflict. Unwittingly, the article thereby provides the ultimate argument for democratic elections as the only sustainable means of reglme change in the world of politics. As the article implies, military coups and martial law only breed more military coups and martial law - and that a recipe for disaster.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

So martial law is for the benefit of the military not the country ?

" Unexpected problems that may arise " can cover simply anything that's not approved of.

If the PM is under too much pressure it's self inflicted injury as he didn't seek the role and the pressure, he took it.

I wish he had not taken the role on, would have been much better if he stepped back and let the entire population, including the north-eastern people, turn on the Shins.

It was beginning to happen and would have been much more fun to watch. alt=biggrin.png>

(I truly believe the main reason the coup happened was because of the redshirts killing innocent people on the streets)

Mike, there is none so blind as he who will not see.

All your posts offer excuses for this pathetic farce which gets more pathetic by the day.

There never will be a better way to allow the Thai people to work out how their democracy will work than letting them elect their own governments.

All this is doing is keeping the military and their masters in power at the expense of the people.

Your feeble attempts to bring the "shins" into every post as some sort of excuse to justify this ongoing (20 coups) interference by the military in Thailands burgeoning democracy are transparent.

Read your history.

The Shinawatra family are on the back burner and the sooner their supporters realise this the better , I stand corrected but I think they are now banned from political activities , hence no New year message from Thaksin as it would have landed the carrier in the sh!!t big time, this excludes others that are still in the PTP , backing might come from the Shins, but will need to be declared.

I had been under the impression that martial law was imposed to protect the country from upheaval,or civil strife. While this itself is debatable, this article now tells us that martial law is needed to somehow " protect the army".. From what, the article does not tell us, though it does tell us there may be rivalaries wthin the military which could lead to conflict. Unwittingly, the article thereby provides the ultimate argument for democratic elections as the only sustainable means of reglme change in the world of politics. As the article implies, military coups and martial law only breed more military coups and martial law - and that a recipe for disaster.

You bring up a good point; why is martial law needed to protect the army?

Under normal circumstances the army already has its own justice system. If they have internal problem it will come for a military court no matter if there is martial law or not.

The reason they need to keep martial law is either that they will clean up the civilian justice system (unlikely given their track record) or they will walk over basic human rights soon again, which can involve civilian courts, and they have no plan whatsoever to take responsibility for it.

So martial law is for the benefit of the military not the country ?

" Unexpected problems that may arise " can cover simply anything that's not approved of.

If the PM is under too much pressure it's self inflicted injury as he didn't seek the role and the pressure, he took it.

I wish he had not taken the role on, would have been much better if he stepped back and let the entire population, including the north-eastern people, turn on the Shins.

It was beginning to happen and would have been much more fun to watch.

(I truly believe the main reason the coup happened was because of the redshirts killing innocent people on the streets)

Mike, there is none so blind as he who will not see.

All your posts offer excuses for this pathetic farce which gets more pathetic by the day.

There never will be a better way to allow the Thai people to work out how their democracy will work than letting them elect their own governments.

All this is doing is keeping the military and their masters in power at the expense of the people.

Your feeble attempts to bring the "shins" into every post as some sort of excuse to justify this ongoing (20 coups) interference by the military in Thailands burgeoning democracy are transparent.

Read your history.

It's pointless trying to educate him.These people are in the grip of a cult so that reasonable evidence casting doubt on their voodoo thinking means nothing.The same old nonsense (eg elections are won by vote buying) is trotted out regardless of proof to the contrary.Here is a classic example - he believes the reason for the coup was "redshirts killing innocent people on the street".The odd aspect is that educated Thais who are fervent opponents of Thaksin's influence don't even pretend the coup happened for that reason.Well placed Democrat leaders like Abhisit, Korn and Alongkorn don't descend to that nonsensical level.But here in Thai Visa there is a never ending trollish tendency.Perhaps it's the equivalent of the dumb and dumber tea party people in the states.Anyway I wish these rednecks would pipe down - though of course they won't/can't.I note the more thoughtful critics of Thaksinism have gone silent.

The army has M16's field guns,tanks, modern fighter aircraft and they need a shield to protect themselves ?

So martial law is for the benefit of the military not the country ?

" Unexpected problems that may arise " can cover simply anything that's not approved of.

If the PM is under too much pressure it's self inflicted injury as he didn't seek the role and the pressure, he took it.

I wish he had not taken the role on, would have been much better if he stepped back and let the entire population, including the north-eastern people, turn on the Shins.

It was beginning to happen and would have been much more fun to watch.

(I truly believe the main reason the coup happened was because of the redshirts killing innocent people on the streets)

Of course. I and some other posters here knew this was simply another power grab as throughout Thai history. you needn't go farther back than 2006 when Taksin was at his least popular and was ripe for being thrown out by the Thais. But no, Big Brother Army had to stamp it's bloody boots all over their lost chance yet again. Idiots. This time people are very angry and it WILL be much much worse. The harder the push (putsch), the harder the push back. Cracks are being shown already. But your belief that the reason, haha, for this coup 'was because of redshirts killing innocent preople on the streets' is disingenuous/naive. How many Thais have their own army killed/incarcerated to date

Thai Law Forum Thailand (Siam) 1914 Martial Law (Unofficial Translation, PDF)

This is all going to end in tears.

Wow, this thread is like fly-paper.

Haha...at least it keeps them from sh!ting all over the somtam, sticky rice and BBQ chicken. Amazing what one persons opinion attracts. Agree like flys to a hot turd.

Quite, and yet you both are here.........

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I had been under the impression that martial law was imposed to protect the country from upheaval,or civil strife. While this itself is debatable, this article now tells us that martial law is needed to somehow " protect the army".. From what, the article does not tell us, though it does tell us there may be rivalaries wthin the military which could lead to conflict. Unwittingly, the article thereby provides the ultimate argument for democratic elections as the only sustainable means of reglme change in the world of politics. As the article implies, military coups and martial law only breed more military coups and martial law - and that a recipe for disaster.

You bring up a good point; why is martial law needed to protect the army?

Under normal circumstances the army already has its own justice system. If they have internal problem it will come for a military court no matter if there is martial law or not.

The reason they need to keep martial law is either that they will clean up the civilian justice system (unlikely given their track record) or they will walk over basic human rights soon again, which can involve civilian courts, and they have no plan whatsoever to take responsibility for it.

I'm not for this Mob at all , but i can see why they don't want to relax Marshall law , If they relax it and everything turns to pooh in a few months you could find a secondary coup being on the cards. Also if they are forever relaxing it and then imposing it when things start to go tits , it will lose its significance

I've watched every one of Dear Leader's Friday spiels. There's nothing in the world like them. Last night was his shortest yet, 30 minutes. and the major topic, bike lanes. But consider his dilemma, he had no photo-ops to show us and can't bring up the subject of the tanking economy. What next week? 20 minutes of garlic chicken recipes?

The Thaitanic sails on.

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If it's not bad enough this bloke with the mood swings taking over the via the barrel of a gun now we have the military in possible conflict with itself .
As for the army needing martial law to shield itself that's just another excuse to keep the boot on the throats of the thai people while they rort the system to keep the true peoples government out.

.... via the barrel of a gun ....

Like many of your posts, less than truthful.

.... rort the system ....

Big statement, please expand with some details.

Where's fabie? Or are you trying to keep the total post count up for both of you?

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

If it's not bad enough this bloke with the mood swings taking over the via the barrel of a gun now we have the military in possible conflict with itself .
As for the army needing martial law to shield itself that's just another excuse to keep the boot on the throats of the thai people while they rort the system to keep the true peoples government out.

.... via the barrel of a gun ....

Like many of your posts, less than truthful.

.... rort the system ....

Big statement, please expand with some details.

Where's fabie? Or are you trying to keep the total post count up for both of you?

Have they Redacted last years events already ?

It was a the barrel of several thousand guns and the threat to use them. It was a Military takeover

Anyone remember this story from a month ago?

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-reacts-coolly-gen-chavalits-counter-coup-remark

You guys are missing what is really going on. There will be a seismic power shift occurring in

a few years in Thailand. Thus the military wants to be sure they are in the proper spot so as

to not get shut out. The old cycle was the piggies getting too greedy at the feeding trough, a coup

to throw out the piggies for around a year, then vote buying elections, and then fresh piggies at the

trough. The military learned its lesson from the coup of 2006, when after the coup was over a

Thaksin surrogate was right back in the driver's seat. So that will not be happening again..

The military will be running the government for years to come. Hence the constant evasion

when he is asked about elections. When Prayut first took power, I was pretty impressed with

his seeming crackdown on corruption. Only realized later that what appeared to be a crackdown

was really a purge of specific people with the wrong connections. The other corrupted people

are still in power, and still have mansions with Ferraris in the garage........ Pongpat with his

60 billion baht of money stolen from the Thai people was just a tiny peek behind the curtain

of what is really going on in this country.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

If it's not bad enough this bloke with the mood swings taking over the via the barrel of a gun now we have the military in possible conflict with itself .

As for the army needing martial law to shield itself that's just another excuse to keep the boot on the throats of the thai people while they rort the system to keep the true peoples government out.

.... via the barrel of a gun ....

Like many of your posts, less than truthful.

.... rort the system ....

Big statement, please expand with some details.

Where's fabie? Or are you trying to keep the total post count up for both of you?

Please explain why this is not so. Loath as I am to bring up certain elected governments, they were the choice of the majority and should have been left to be hoist by their own petard, decades ago. If this were not the case, what you are suggesting is absolute dictatorship in perpetuity. Is that what you are are suggesting is the better option?

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

You guys are missing what is really going on. There will be a seismic power shift occurring in

a few years in Thailand. Thus the military wants to be sure they are in the proper spot so as

to not get shut out. The old cycle was the piggies getting too greedy at the feeding trough, a coup

to throw out the piggies for around a year, then vote buying elections, and then fresh piggies at the

trough. The military learned its lesson from the coup of 2006, when after the coup was over a

Thaksin surrogate was right back in the driver's seat. So that will not be happening again..

The military will be running the government for years to come. Hence the constant evasion

when he is asked about elections. When Prayut first took power, I was pretty impressed with

his seeming crackdown on corruption. Only realized later that what appeared to be a crackdown

was really a purge of specific people with the wrong connections. The other corrupted people

are still in power, and still have mansions with Ferraris in the garage........ Pongpat with his

60 billion baht of money stolen from the Thai people was just a tiny peek behind the curtain

of what is really going on in this country.

I agree with what you say to an extent. Would be very difficult and probably not conflict free to re-mobilize the Army to reimpose Marshall law

Anyone remember this story from a month ago?

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-reacts-coolly-gen-chavalits-counter-coup-remark

Wow some real zingers in that story from Chavalit..... So guess elections in his eyes

are a bad thing ? No wonder Thailand is in such trouble.

"He viewed that if the prime minister comes from election or elected by the people, then it might breach the power of the king as past appointments came from royal commands."