By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER PAETONGTARN Shinawatra today (Dec. 11) categorically denied her Pheu Thai-led government might probably seek to interfere in military affairs with a planned anti-coup legislation.
Paetongtarn, daughter of de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, told reporters at Government House that the current coalition government would by no means interfere in any internal affairs of the army, navy and air force, given the fresh move to put forward legislation to practically keep the military top brass under control of the civilian government and to thwart any attempted coups in the future.
Nevertheless, the woman prime minister stopped short of responding to ultimate objections recently raised by the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai and the military-installed Ruam Thai Sang Chart, the second and third coalition partners respectively, to the debatable legislation which might be finally withdrawn at an order of the de facto Pheu Thai boss who himself was ousted as an elected prime minister in the 2006 coup.
The legislation drafted by Pheu Thai MP Prayut Siripanich, among others, is designed to have the prime minister chair the Defence Council in lieu of the defence minister and to have the cabinet of ministers give a final say to annual promotions of army generals, navy admirals and air force marshals.
Currently sitting on the Defence Council are the defence minister as chair of the council, the army chief, navy chief, air force chief, supreme commander and undersecretary for defence, among others.
Remarkably, the anti-coup bill seeks to encourage soldiers at all ranks and levels to deny orders from any of their superiors who might possibly contemplate or orchestrate a coup to overthrow the elected government without being subsequently subject to disciplinary or criminal charges.
Many People’s and Pheu Thai MPs have expressed solid support for long-delayed attempts by the legislative branch toward military reforms, beginning with such an anti-coup legislation primarily designed to restrain the politically-motivated powers of the top brass.
Apart from Thaksin, his fugitive sister Yingluck Shinawatra was also deposed as an elected prime minister in the 2014 coup orchestrated by former army chief-turned-prime minister/now privy councilor Prayut Chan-o-cha.
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Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressing the press today, Dec. 11, 2024. Photos: Thai Rath
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