Suthep’s no-election call won’t hurt reconciliation: Army chief
By The Nation

 

General Chalermchai Sutthisart, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army

 

BANGKOK: --  The Army chief on Monday shrugged off a remark by pro-junta veteran politician Suthep Thaugsuban, who claims that the country is not ready for an election any time soon.

 

General Chalermchai Sutthisart, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, said that he did not think such a remark would affect the ongoing efforts to achieve national reconciliation. 

 

Chalermchai said his duty as a member of the government’s reconciliation building committee was to gather suggestions from the public as to how reconciliation could be achieved.

 

He was asked to comment on a remark by Suthep, chairman of the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation, who said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should be allowed to complete the reform work before a new election is held. 

 

Suthep reportedly said Thailand is not ready for an election any time soon and threatened to hold a street protest if an election is called “too early”.

 

“That’s only Suthep’s opinion. I have the duty of collecting suggestions about reconciliation,” the Army chief said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30318486

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-19

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

General Chalermchai Sutthisart, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, said that he did not think such a remark would affect the ongoing efforts to achieve national reconciliation. 

 

I agree.

 

His comment reflects the fact that this fairy tale ''reconciliation'' pipe dream is complete BS.

 

What the country needs is accountability, a functioning legal system, an acceptance that other people have a right to their point of view and a police force that does not rely on ''tea money'' to pay their bills.

18 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

I agree.

 

His comment reflects the fact that this fairy tale ''reconciliation'' pipe dream is complete BS.

 

What the country needs is accountability, a functioning legal system and a police force that does not rely on ''tea money'' to pay their bills.

Hear, hear. And I would add to that a military (reasonably) free of corruption and concentrating on defending Thailand from external foes, not playing internal politics.

boy look at the two parties central to this article; heaven help thailand

If that remark had been made by anyone other than the PMs friend they would have been taken in for attitude adjustment for threatening national security and causing unrest. Yet another example of the elite sticking together regardless. Shame on you!

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Of course Suthep doesn't want an election ...it might constrain the 'snouts at the trough' activities of his 'born to rule' cronies. Why the views of one of the most corrupt politicians in the history of the country are even newsworthy is a sad reflection on the state of affairs.

Imagine if it was anyone else threatening to come out on the streets and protest.

Some only have to throw a birthday party and invite friends of the same political persuasion to have army hoardes gatecrash and break it up.