BANGKOK, Oct 17 (Reuters) - A tight-lipped Thai Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, left Bangkok for the ancient capital of Ayutthaya on Friday, the day after the army chief said he should step down.
The comments from General Anupong Paochinda in a live television interview on Thursday alongside the heads of the Navy, Air Force and police, prompted frenzied speculation of a coup, although Anupong insisted he was not about to take over.
Dozens of reporters camped outside Somchai's house in a northern Bangkok suburb on Friday morning, waiting for him to emerge. He eventually did so, but his motorcade headed straight to Ayutthaya, 70 km (40 miles) north of Bangkok.
Somchai, a brother-in-law of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, is due to fly later on Friday to eastern Thailand to visit soldiers involved in this week's border clash with Cambodia.
Anupong's remarks were the strongest indication that the armed forces think the time is up for the elected administration.
However, government spokesman Nattawut Saikuar said he did not think the military would dare intervene only two years after its removal of Thaksin, a coup that failed to purge him from the political system due to his sustained rural support.
'The army chief has consistently assured us that it will not happen, which is a blessing for the country,' Nattawut told Channel 3 television. 'Otherwise this cannot end. Another group of people will rise to fight the power behind the coup.'
Thailand has been riven by political conflict for the three years since the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) started its street campaign against Thaksin and his allies, accusing them of corruption, cronyism and threatening the monarchy.
The dispute between the Thaksin camp and the military and royalist elite who despise him has seen a coup, elections and more street protests, but appears to be no nearer a conclusion.
(Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Darren Schuettler and Alex Richardson).
The comments from General Anupong Paochinda in a live television interview on Thursday alongside the heads of the Navy, Air Force and police, prompted frenzied speculation of a coup, although Anupong insisted he was not about to take over.
Dozens of reporters camped outside Somchai's house in a northern Bangkok suburb on Friday morning, waiting for him to emerge. He eventually did so, but his motorcade headed straight to Ayutthaya, 70 km (40 miles) north of Bangkok.
Somchai, a brother-in-law of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, is due to fly later on Friday to eastern Thailand to visit soldiers involved in this week's border clash with Cambodia.
Anupong's remarks were the strongest indication that the armed forces think the time is up for the elected administration.
However, government spokesman Nattawut Saikuar said he did not think the military would dare intervene only two years after its removal of Thaksin, a coup that failed to purge him from the political system due to his sustained rural support.
'The army chief has consistently assured us that it will not happen, which is a blessing for the country,' Nattawut told Channel 3 television. 'Otherwise this cannot end. Another group of people will rise to fight the power behind the coup.'
Thailand has been riven by political conflict for the three years since the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) started its street campaign against Thaksin and his allies, accusing them of corruption, cronyism and threatening the monarchy.
The dispute between the Thaksin camp and the military and royalist elite who despise him has seen a coup, elections and more street protests, but appears to be no nearer a conclusion.
(Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Darren Schuettler and Alex Richardson).
2 comments:
The whole world know that this is the war of power among Thai civil and Army.
IT is time for THAI and SIAM to fight each other. LOL> THAI & SIAM!!
It is time for SIAM going down!
Because of the stupid greediest OLD KING.
THAI stupid ignorant Mo-Fo King that's why THAI have the situation like this.
Bhumibol is going to die soon!
Bhumibol will be dead of heartfailure.
Bhumibol will die because of his unsuccess claim of Khmer's land.
Thai will be no longer as country after their gay king die!
Bhumibol is the Gayish king on earth.
Down SIAM!
Down King of SIAM!
Khmer rise!
Khmer united will win!
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