New top brass throw support behind NCPO, Prayut
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The military's new top brass met for the first time yesterday and announced they would throw their support behind the Prayut government and the National Council for Peace and Order.
Supreme Commander General Worapong Sanganet was joined by other top brass at a press conference after the meeting.
It followed a number of retirements in September, including that of former Army chief and current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is believed to have placed highly trusted men in key posts before his retirement to ensure the military’s full support for his government.
Worapong said the military supported the second stage of the National Council for Peace and Order’s reform process to be carried out by the National Reform Council.
He stressed that there would be no more military coups if the NCPO achieved success with its comprehensive reform of 11 sectors.
The Supreme Commander also expressed confidence that Prayut would run the country smoothly.
He said military units linked with the NRC had been assigned to handle political “undercurrents” and conflicts.
The NCPO’s ultimate goal was to organise a suitable election for the country, and the main objective of the reform was to improve morality and the quality of life for Thais.
“If people think, speak and act holily, problems facing the country will be sharply reduced including corruption,’’ he said.
Worapong denied reports that the United State government had reduced the scale of the joint Cobra Gold military exercise. The reports said the US had decided to scale down next year’s Cobra Gold because of the rift in relations that followed the May coup.
Worapong also said he did not see any political implication in response to people attending the funeral of former House speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai. He said Apiwan had been a high-profile man and was granted a royal cremation.
Police Commissioner General Somyos Pumpanmuang, who also attended the press conference, said Thailand supported the United Kingdom and Myanmar’s move to send officials to observe the police investigation into the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao, but their actions must be in accordance with the charter.
