http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...for-red-shirts

Olive branch for red shirts

New army chief plans to meet relatives of killed protesters
  • Published: 1/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
  • Newspaper section: News


Newly appointed army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha is planning trips to the North and the Northeast to visit relatives of red shirt protesters who were killed in the April-May rallies.


Army commander-in-chief Anupong Paojinda, left, hands over authority to his successor, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, at a ceremony yesterday at the army headquarters in Bangkok. CHANAT KATANYU

Well known for his opposition to the red shirts, Gen Prayuth's surprise plan forms part of his policy to patch up differences with United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship supporters.

The visits are intended as a gesture to reach out to members of the red shirt movement and to project a new image for Gen Prayuth, who has been viewed as taking a hard-line stance against the group, sources close to him said.

The sources said Gen Prayuth had yet to set the timing of his visits and the nature of his meetings with the relatives of those killed.

Among the 91 people killed, five were demonstrators from the North and 20 from the Northeast.

The sources said Gen Prayuth had assigned the newly appointed 2nd and 3rd Army commanders _ Lt Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon and Lt Gen Wanthip Wongwai _ to coordinate his visit.

The army had already sent staff to meet with local red shirts and more senior officers, especially Gen Prayuth, would pay visits to the relatives of those killed to extend condolences and talk to them.

Officially taking the top job as the 37th commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army today, Gen Prayuth vowed at a ceremony yesterday that, in taking over from Anupong Paojinda, he would perform his duty to the best of his ability.

"I will develop the army so that it can carry out its mission as the key protector of the nation's sovereignty and the crown."

He takes office amid a spate of bombings, with the emergency decree still in place in Bangkok and a few other provinces. The tense situation is likely to continue during his term.

The army, which laid low for years after the disgrace of Black May in 1992, re-entered the political arena when it staged the coup on Sept 19, 2006, that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra government.

Gen Prayuth was then a deputy commander of the 1st Army. He led his troops in supporting the putsch alongside Gen Anupong.

He has stood side by side with Gen Anupong from the beginning of their military careers, during negotiations inside a military camp that led to the formation of the Democrat-led coalition government, the crackdown on red shirt protesters in April last year and the operation to reclaim Ratchaprasong in April and May this year.

It seems inevitable that Gen Prayuth will have to keep at least one foot in politics to prevent former prime minister Thaksin from returning to power. That means the army must team up with the ruling Democrat Party or any other parties that can help its political battles.

Gen Prayuth is known for his combative approach, for being decisive and for his fierce opposition to the Thaksin regime and the red shirt movement.

His stance against Thaksin and the red shirts hardened after some splinter groups in the red shirt movement were accused of trying to overthrow the royal institution.

The new army commander is recognised for his loyalty to the monarchy. He has served Her Majesty the Queen since he was a young officer. He is expected to protect and promote the royal institution now there have been alleged attempts to abuse it for political gains.

Gen Prayuth will reach his retirement age in 2014. His remaining time in military service is long enough to protect the throne during these politically tumultuous times.

Army insiders believe that with Gen Prayuth as chief, anything _ even a coup _ is possible if the army feels it may lose control over politics and be at a disadvantage against its enemies.

"No one would want a coup if the nation is peaceful and free of unrest," Gen Prayuth said recently.

Although he expressed a wish to bring his soldiers back to the barracks and stay away from politics, Gen Prayuth realises this will be difficult.

"I will try to step back from politics, be clear of it and leave it with the government so that soldiers can do their military work. But if the nation has not returned to order, the military as a mechanism of the government must help build order first," he said.

Gen Prayuth has solid back-up _ his former classmates from Class 12 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School control key army units. They are also considered hawkish. They include Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan, the army chief-of-staff who played an important role in plotting the crackdown on the red shirts.

The presence of a bloc of combat-oriented officers in force-controlling positions sends a strong message that the army is now ready to cope with all kinds of political situations. That means national reconciliation may be of a lower priority.