Suthep warns of red shirts' 'complex' goals

[gjbkk]

Suthep warns of red shirts' 'complex' goals

• Published: 28/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is well-suited to discuss the nation's security situation. Speaking to Pradit Ruangdit, he says not everything is what it seems.

As the deputy prime minister for national security, how do you assess the red shirt movement?

I believe the red shirt movement is much more complicated than meets the eye. Thaksin hopes to use the red shirt people as a tool to get back his assets, to help him escape his jail sentence, and to reclaim his political power. At the same time, there are people in the Thaksin camp who want to change the country's administration using Thaksin's money. In other words, they have been using each other. Thai people have to be aware that this movement does not aim only to topple the government. Their goal is more elaborate than that. The people should wait and see.

Would the government negotiate with them to find a way out for the country?

I don't think dialogue will be successful. That cannot happen because what Thaksin wants is to be spared his prison term. Secondly, he wants all his assets back.

We can't negotiate on these conditions. If he has other conditions, it wouldn't be a problem for us. We could do it.

Without negotiation, does this mean the situation will turn more violent?

It could. The intelligence people are watching the situation. The government is trying to solve the problems for the people and the country. However, to find a solution, we need help from the people. But positive signs have emerged. Because of public sentiment, the red shirts have postponed their major rally (in Bangkok) during the time we're celebrating His Majesty the King's birthday. It would be even better if the people could pressure the red shirts not to rally after Dec 15 because people are in the mood to enjoy the New Year celebrations.

But people should know that the popularity of both the red shirt and the yellow shirt people today has declined. This is because Thais don't want violence. We don't want the chaos to go on.

Are the armed forces commanders still supporting the government?

The government and the armed forces are on good terms. I've worked closely with the military leaders. They are democratic. Their goal is to protect the constitutional monarchy. The government's goal is also to protect the monarchy and democracy. The military supports us fully.

Coalition parties could turn against the Democrat Party. Wouldn't that hurt the government's stability?

All the coalition parties are still being good to us. There's no problem. It's not a problem for the government as a whole. But as a coalition government, we do have some differences. On amending the constitution, the Democrats also agree with this. We have said to coalition parties that a public referendum must be held before the amendments can take place. The problem is that the senate and Puea Thai Party no longer want the charter amended. Without their support, rallying votes in parliament for such amendments may not be possible. We must talk things out with them.

What do you make of the government's relationship with neighbouring countries like Cambodia?

In fact, the relationships with neighbouring countries are still solid, especially the relationships between security agencies. Our armed forces have strong ties with their counterparts in Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and China. For Cambodia, there are problems between the governments, but the ties between the two countries' militaries have not changed. We have no concerns about border security at all. We only have problems with the political and trade relationship with Cambodia. I hope the problems will ease soon.

I have tried to explain to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen every time I've had a chance, whether directly or via another person, that he would be wrong to anticipate Thaksin returning to power.

The government and the armed forces are on good terms. I've worked closely with the military leaders. They are democratic. Their goal is to protect the constitutional monarchy. The government's goal is also to protect the monarchy and democracy. The military supports us fully.

"The military supports us fully". Yes but in the Bangkok Post Here there is a report that several senior military generals have joined Puea Thai: that does not sound like all armed forces are on good terms with the so called "Democrats". It is interesting on what Gen. Udom Ketprom said about Prem.

He says he has worked closley with the military leeders as one can see Here


Suthep must be out of his mind if he thinks the military are democratic.

We have no concerns about border security at all.

See Here it says that the Thai authorities have built 340 bunkers in two schools and several villages in three sub-districts in Sri Saket, at a cost of 40 million baht


and Kasit has a very different view Here

[Thetyim]

"The military supports us fully". Yes but in the Bangkok Post Here there is a report that several senior military generals have joined Puea Thai: that does not sound like all armed forces are on good terms with the so called "Democrats".

It is true.
Several senior generals are on Taksin's side.

[sabang]

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is well-suited to discuss the nation's security situation

[Butterfly]

Suthep must be out of his mind if he thinks the military are democratic.

sorry to burst your bubble but they might be a bit more than you think, otherwise how do you explain them letting Thailand returning to free election and a civil government, both in 1996 and 2007 ? if they were committed to a dictatorship, they would have done it already, and they would have got away with it.

[gjbkk]

free election and a civil government, both in 1996 and 2007

so what is staging a coup then?

[Mid]

free election 2007

the election was conditional on the current Constitution being passed at the referendum prior

said referendum stated that 51% of the upper house be appointed .

sad excuse for a free election