By Wassana Nanuam
The armed forces are concerned that the relentless efforts by the People's Alliance for Democracy to drag the military into their game is a battle to win the favour of the military.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wassana Nanuam reports on military affairs for the Bangkok Post.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is known to have been an ally of the generals who staged the Sept 19, 2006 coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The same old faces have launched another round of protests, urging the military to force the government out of office and root out the Thaksin regime after the last coup failed to achieve its aim.
During the initial stages of the present demonstration, they stepped up calls for the military to step in to "sort out" the political crisis, by which they meant stage another coup.
The armed forces, however, did not respond to their calls since they have learnt a lesson from the last coup and know that is not the solution.
The military top brass no longer hang together as well as before.
The Council for National Security (CNS), set up by the coup-makers to run the country, no longer exists.
Some of its former members want to redeem themselves by trying to wipe out the Thaksin regime. Their problem is that they no longer have control of the armed forces.
Some "defectors" among CNS members kissed and made up with Mr Thaksin and his successor, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
One is army chief Anupong Paojinda, who has reportedly mended relations with Mr Thaksin.
Both were in Class 10 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. That helps explain why there was no reaction from Gen Anupong to the PAD's calls for him to make a move.
Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader and a graduate from Class 7 at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, had to make a plea for all soldiers, past and present, from the academy to support the PAD.
Some serving and retired soldiers have rallied behind the PAD.
They include Gen Panlop Pinmanee, former deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command, and Maj-Gen Manoonkrit Roopkachorn. They are Maj-Gen Chamlong's staunch friends and were involved in coups in the past.
The PAD also has the support of Adm Banawit Kengrian, former chief adviser to the Defence Ministry and Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, deputy permanent secretary for defence and a former CNS member.
At first, Gen Anupong drew praise from the PAD for warning the prime minister against imposing emergency rule and against using force to disperse the protesters.
The PAD believed that Gen Anupong was on the public's side.
But actually the real reason was that the army chief was concerned that Mr Samak might fall into a "trap" if he used force to break up the demonstration.
Gen Anupong advised Mr Samak to allow the PAD to continue their protest rally until it loses steam and wilts away.
Mr Samak can play a waiting game for as long as he wants and if the anti-government demonstration gets out of hand, he can dissolve the House and call a general election as a last resort. The government would act as a caretaker government and oversee the election.
The PAD now knows that Gen Anupong is on the government's side.
Disillusioned, the PAD now turned on the army chief. He came under criticism for keeping silent over the defamation case brought against the Assets Scrutiny Committee by a law firm representing Mr Thaksin.
An army source said the armed forces are concerned about the PAD's relentless efforts to drag the military into their game. It is a battle to win the favour of the military, said the source.
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The armed forces are concerned that the relentless efforts by the People's Alliance for Democracy to drag the military into their game is a battle to win the favour of the military.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wassana Nanuam reports on military affairs for the Bangkok Post.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is known to have been an ally of the generals who staged the Sept 19, 2006 coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The same old faces have launched another round of protests, urging the military to force the government out of office and root out the Thaksin regime after the last coup failed to achieve its aim.
During the initial stages of the present demonstration, they stepped up calls for the military to step in to "sort out" the political crisis, by which they meant stage another coup.
The armed forces, however, did not respond to their calls since they have learnt a lesson from the last coup and know that is not the solution.
The military top brass no longer hang together as well as before.
The Council for National Security (CNS), set up by the coup-makers to run the country, no longer exists.
Some of its former members want to redeem themselves by trying to wipe out the Thaksin regime. Their problem is that they no longer have control of the armed forces.
Some "defectors" among CNS members kissed and made up with Mr Thaksin and his successor, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
One is army chief Anupong Paojinda, who has reportedly mended relations with Mr Thaksin.
Both were in Class 10 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. That helps explain why there was no reaction from Gen Anupong to the PAD's calls for him to make a move.
Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader and a graduate from Class 7 at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, had to make a plea for all soldiers, past and present, from the academy to support the PAD.
Some serving and retired soldiers have rallied behind the PAD.
They include Gen Panlop Pinmanee, former deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command, and Maj-Gen Manoonkrit Roopkachorn. They are Maj-Gen Chamlong's staunch friends and were involved in coups in the past.
The PAD also has the support of Adm Banawit Kengrian, former chief adviser to the Defence Ministry and Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, deputy permanent secretary for defence and a former CNS member.
At first, Gen Anupong drew praise from the PAD for warning the prime minister against imposing emergency rule and against using force to disperse the protesters.
The PAD believed that Gen Anupong was on the public's side.
But actually the real reason was that the army chief was concerned that Mr Samak might fall into a "trap" if he used force to break up the demonstration.
Gen Anupong advised Mr Samak to allow the PAD to continue their protest rally until it loses steam and wilts away.
Mr Samak can play a waiting game for as long as he wants and if the anti-government demonstration gets out of hand, he can dissolve the House and call a general election as a last resort. The government would act as a caretaker government and oversee the election.
The PAD now knows that Gen Anupong is on the government's side.
Disillusioned, the PAD now turned on the army chief. He came under criticism for keeping silent over the defamation case brought against the Assets Scrutiny Committee by a law firm representing Mr Thaksin.
An army source said the armed forces are concerned about the PAD's relentless efforts to drag the military into their game. It is a battle to win the favour of the military, said the source.
Discuss
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