Deputy PM allays concerns over new coup

BANGKOK, Jan 26 (TNA) – Armoured army vehicles seen on Bangkok’s streets Monday evening are part of Thailand’s assistance to the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Sudan, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Tuesday, assuring the public the top military brass will definitely not stage a coup as his Democrat-led coalition government still enjoys full support from the military.

Mr Suthep said he has heard that close aides of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have planned to incite violence to the point that the military could not stay idle and that will lead to popular uprising.

The deputy premier, who oversees national security, reasserted that he works closely with the armed forces chiefs who strictly adhere to democratic principles and backs the democratically-elected government to help resolve the country’s problems and that the top military officers have no plan to stage a coup.

“The public should not be worried because state officials will not use violence in solving problems,” said the deputy premier, “Police and soldiers do not take side but duty-bound to maintain law and order.”

“The armed forces chiefs understand that political problems must be solved through politics,” Mr Suthep said. “I’ve been working with them for more than a year and a coup is entirely not on their minds.”

Regarding media reports some armoured vehicles being seen on Bangkok streets Monday night caused panic among parts of the public, Mr Suthep explained that the vehicles were being relocated for maintenance before being dispatched to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan.

Mr Suthep apologised the public and said that the concerned agencies should have informed the public over the move.

Thailand’s most recent coup, staged bloodlessly on September 19, 2006, toppled the Thaksin administration following prolonged street protests led by the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), better known as the Yellow Shirts. (TNA)