No coup, Army insists, despite rising tension

The army yesterday dismissed the possibility of a military coup amid the escalating political tension.  “This unfounded theory was just the personal imagination of some people who are out to confuse the public,” deputy Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree said.

 

Many reports circulating in social media have no basis in fact and falsely link the Army with politics. People should not be overly sensitive and should exercise good judgement in what information they take in, he said.

 

The Army and its chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha have been busy assisting flood victims across the country and organising celebrations for Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.

 

The public should not to be alarmed about any cross-country movements of Army equipment that usually take place at this time of year.

 

The atmosphere at the anti-government rally in Lumpini Park by the ‘People’s Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime’ grew more excited. Organisers put up a large temporary stage in front of the King Rama VI Monument with a message “Time to destroy the country is up. Tyrants must leave”. Speakers took turns onstage to attack the government.

 

The movement’s leaders said the rally would remove the Yingluck government from power within seven days. Vendors set up street stalls to sell white masks and T-shirts emblazoned with anti-government messages.

 

Security was stepped up at Government House with barbed wire and security officials at every gate. 

 

Signs saying “Government House is state property and off limits to outsiders” or “strictly restricted zone” were posted on entrances and exits.

 

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Facebook ridiculed the rally, saying many core leaders were people without noteworthy achievements. The Democrats were reprimanded for siding with the protesters. The opposition bloc should relax and wait for its turn to form the government, he said.

 

Many leaders of anti-government campaigns were retired senior military or police brass with “broken hearts” from missing out on key positions during reshuffles when they were still in the service. Many retirees’ names had also been monopolised by the movement without their consent, he said.

 

Security at Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s residence on Yothinpattana Soi 3 has been beefed up with riot control police manning checkpoints set up around the vicinity. Metal barricades ringed the checkpoints and carparks. Yingluck stayed indoors the whole day.

 

Police dismissed reports that anti-government protesters would fan out to various destinations including Yingluck’s home.

 

Democrat party-list MP Ong-art Klampaiboon said if the government was sincere about not helping any particular person in debating an amnesty bill on Wednesday, it must not try to pass the |bill in three straight readings and must broadcast the debate on state television channels.

 

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit criticised Democrat Suthep Thaugsuban for vowing to lead a campaign to overthrow the government. 

 

“His actions have confused the public. It’s worrisome because Suthep thinks he cannot beat us at the parliamentary system so he must overthrow us unparliamentarily,’’ he said.

 

Prompong also played down coup rumours, saying the people who started spreading coup rumours in social media harboured political motivations and they should take responsibility for their actions.

 

Pol Maj Gen Piya, spokesman of the police peace-keeping centre, said some high-ranking officials mentioned by the People’s Army as its supporters have denied their involvement with the group, including Pol Lt General Adithep Panchamanont, who has submitted a letter to the police refuting the report he supported the group seeking to overthrow the ‘Thaksin government’ and had filed a police complaint already.