Thai Prime Minister Says that Government Has No Intention to Intervene in Military Affairs

Bangkok, The Gulf Observer: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has reiterated that the government has no intention to intervene in military affairs, amid a proposed bill to revise the Defence Ministry Administration Act that has drawn mixed opinions and concerns from various parties.

The bill, proposed by Pheu Thai MP Prayuth Siripanich, aims to prevent future military coups by empowering the cabinet to endorse the appointment of generals proposed by a committee comprising the defence minister and chiefs of the armed forces. However, two coalition partners, Bhumjaithai and United Thai Nation (UTN), and the opposition Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) have opposed the bill, citing concerns that it would allow politicians to interfere in military affairs.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn emphasized that the government’s focus is on fostering peace and stability, rather than provoking conflicts. She also downplayed a reporter’s question about whether she would be the first person in the Shinawatra family to avoid a coup, saying that with efforts directed at strengthening the economy, there would be no conflicts to hinder progress.

The Defence Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, distanced his party from Mr. Prayuth’s bill, saying it was not endorsed by Pheu Thai. He welcomed Mr. Prayuth’s offer to withdraw the bill for further improvement, which showed his openness to criticism.

Parliament is currently gathering public opinions on Mr. Prayuth’s bill through an online platform until January 1. As of Monday, there were 27,113 respondents, with 72.47% disagreeing with the bill and 27.53% supporting it.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that the government does not intend to meddle with military affairs and any move that benefits the country must be undertaken with cooperation from all sides.

The proposed bill is one of three anti-coup bills currently being considered by parliament. The other two were proposed earlier by the main opposition People’s Party and former defence minister Sutin Klungsaeng.

Defence Minister Phumtham said that anti-coup laws are already in place, and a coup is an illegal act under the constitution. However, he emphasized that democratic awareness should be further strengthened so that issues can be resolved through a democratic process.

The debate surrounding the proposed bill highlights ongoing concerns about the role of politics in military affairs and the potential for future coups in Thailand.