Hành động đầy ngạc nhiên của Chỉ huy tối cao quân đội Thái Lan Songkitti Jaggabatara khi dẫn đầu nhóm những sĩ quan cấp cao tuyên bố không có đảo chính đang được nhiều người coi là nỗ lực thu hút sự chú ý của công chúng đối với ông, người vốn lâu nay bị che khuất bởi Tổng tham mưu trưởng và Bộ trưởng Quốc phòng
Bangkok Post
Songkitti no-coup pledge is personal
Bangkok Post
Published: 7/04/2011
Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara's surprise move to lead the military top brass in shooting down coup rumours is being viewed by many as an attempt to raise his public profile long overshadowed by the army chief and the defence minister.
As Gen Songkitti chaired the press conference on Tuesday, the armed forces' leaders appeared to be caught off guard when they were asked by Gen Songkitti to promise they would not stage a coup.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, who stood behind the supreme commander along with navy commander Kamthorn Phumhiran and air force chief Itthaporn Subhawong, gave slight nods of approval when their boss turned and ask them whether "you share the opinion with me [about not staging a coup]".
Gen Prayuth has repeatedly insisted there will be no coup. However, some critics recall the putsch in 2006 by then army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin who had given a similar assurance the army would not overthrow the government.
Gen Songkitti's success in getting all the armed forces commanders to stand behind him and deny the coup rumours which have intensified in recent weeks has put him in the spotlight before his retirement in September this year.
An insider quoted Gen Songkitti as telling his close aide that he would resign if the military staged a coup d'etat before his retirement.
Appointed to the top armed forces post three years ago, Gen Songkitti has kept a low profile and has rarely given interviews or offered public comments on controversial issues.
One reason, as is generally known, is that his position is less powerful than the army chief's who has direct command over the country's soldiers and who has been traditionally the key player in the country's coup history.
Although by his position, the supreme commander oversees all armed forces, in practice he has no direct control over the army which has been instrumental in major political changes in the past.
At the press briefing, Gen Songkitti reminded the public of the importance of the Supreme Command Headquarters' role in helping the country in both military and non-military affairs.
Apart from supporting the Internal Security Operations Command with its personnel, the Supreme Command Headquarters has also been involved in helping the government solve the country's problems.
These included the ongoing disaster relief operations in the flood-hit southern provinces.
"We've not publicised our work because we are doing it with our love and our bond with the people," he said.
A military analyst said the reason for Gen Songkitti's surprise press conference was also believed to be him trying to make known his feelings about being overlooked by the other commanders and the Democrat-led government.
Both Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees national security, know well that Gen Songkitti has no real military power and is not able to stage a coup.
So when the government needed to talk to soldiers, "Mr Suthep simply called Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Prayuth without going through the chain of command by first contacting the supreme commander", he said.
When the two wanted to work with the Supreme Command Headquarters, they would directly contact the joint chief of staff Thanasak Patimakorn, who is a classmate of Gen Prayuth in Class 12 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. Gen Thanasak is reportedly tipped to succeed Gen Songkitti.
Gen Songkitti is a classmate of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Class 10 and this could be one of the reasons why he has never had the full trust of the government.
The source said Gen Songkitti was not happy with Gen Prawit and Gen Prayuth for "getting soldiers involved in politics too much and making the army a power base for the Democrat-led government".
The press conference was an opportunity for Gen Songkitti to let his feelings be known. He wanted to "open his mind", his close aide told reporters.
Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara's surprise move to lead the military top brass in shooting down coup rumours is being viewed by many as an attempt to raise his public profile long overshadowed by the army chief and the defence minister.
As Gen Songkitti chaired the press conference on Tuesday, the armed forces' leaders appeared to be caught off guard when they were asked by Gen Songkitti to promise they would not stage a coup.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, who stood behind the supreme commander along with navy commander Kamthorn Phumhiran and air force chief Itthaporn Subhawong, gave slight nods of approval when their boss turned and ask them whether "you share the opinion with me [about not staging a coup]".
Gen Prayuth has repeatedly insisted there will be no coup. However, some critics recall the putsch in 2006 by then army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin who had given a similar assurance the army would not overthrow the government.
Gen Songkitti's success in getting all the armed forces commanders to stand behind him and deny the coup rumours which have intensified in recent weeks has put him in the spotlight before his retirement in September this year.
Songkitti: Resents being overlooked
An insider quoted Gen Songkitti as telling his close aide that he would resign if the military staged a coup d'etat before his retirement.
Appointed to the top armed forces post three years ago, Gen Songkitti has kept a low profile and has rarely given interviews or offered public comments on controversial issues.
One reason, as is generally known, is that his position is less powerful than the army chief's who has direct command over the country's soldiers and who has been traditionally the key player in the country's coup history.
Although by his position, the supreme commander oversees all armed forces, in practice he has no direct control over the army which has been instrumental in major political changes in the past.
At the press briefing, Gen Songkitti reminded the public of the importance of the Supreme Command Headquarters' role in helping the country in both military and non-military affairs.
Apart from supporting the Internal Security Operations Command with its personnel, the Supreme Command Headquarters has also been involved in helping the government solve the country's problems.
These included the ongoing disaster relief operations in the flood-hit southern provinces.
"We've not publicised our work because we are doing it with our love and our bond with the people," he said.
A military analyst said the reason for Gen Songkitti's surprise press conference was also believed to be him trying to make known his feelings about being overlooked by the other commanders and the Democrat-led government.
Both Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees national security, know well that Gen Songkitti has no real military power and is not able to stage a coup.
So when the government needed to talk to soldiers, "Mr Suthep simply called Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Prayuth without going through the chain of command by first contacting the supreme commander", he said.
When the two wanted to work with the Supreme Command Headquarters, they would directly contact the joint chief of staff Thanasak Patimakorn, who is a classmate of Gen Prayuth in Class 12 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. Gen Thanasak is reportedly tipped to succeed Gen Songkitti.
Gen Songkitti is a classmate of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Class 10 and this could be one of the reasons why he has never had the full trust of the government.
The source said Gen Songkitti was not happy with Gen Prawit and Gen Prayuth for "getting soldiers involved in politics too much and making the army a power base for the Democrat-led government".
The press conference was an opportunity for Gen Songkitti to let his feelings be known. He wanted to "open his mind", his close aide told reporters.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/230731/songkitti-no-coup-pledge-is-personal
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