Embarrassing Cracks Emerge in Thailand’s Post-Coup Establishment

Wall Street Journal | 24 June 2014

BANGKOK – Some embarrassing cracks are beginning to emerge among the main players in Thailand’s military coup after a pro-army protest leader said he had been conspiring with the army for years.

Thai army chief and junta head General Prayuth Chan-ocha smile as he leaves after the meeting of the 2015 national budget at the Army Club in Bangkok, on June 13.European Pressphoto Agency

In the month since the army seized power in a coup d’état, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and his lieutenants have insisted they didn’t have any long-standing plans to topple the elected government backed by brother-and-sister duo Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra. The military instead has insisted that he took power to spare the country further street protests and even a low-grade civil war between supporters and opponents of the populist Shinawatra clan.

Despite scores of arrests and a sweeping crackdown on anyone opposing the putsch, this reasoning has gone down well with many Thais. It has also been backed up by a charm offensive ranging from providing free World Cup soccer coverage to complimentary cinema tickets. One opinion poll conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, with an admittedly small sample of 1,600 people, ranked the army’s performance at 8.8 out of a possible 10.

The Bangkok Post newspaper, though, reported that veteran politician Suthep Thaugsuban had revealed that had been discussing with Gen. Prayuth how to eradicate the influence of Mr. Thaksin for over four years.

These are contentious remarks. Mr. Thaksin, who led Thailand until he was ousted in an earlier coup in 2006 and who now lives overseas, is still widely supported in many parts of Thailand, especially the north and northeast. Gen. Prayuth has been trying to appear even-handed in his treatment of Thailand’s warring factions.

Suthep Thaugsuban, the leader of mass protests against Ms. Yingluck’s government, leaves the Thai criminal court on June 9 in Bangkok.Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

But speaking at a fund-raising dinner, Mr. Suthep, the spearhead of the mass protests against Ms. Yingluck’s government in the months leading up to the coup, appeared to let the cat out of the bag. He suggested that army has long eyed removing the government of Mr. Thaksin’s sister, Ms. Yingluck, which was elected in 2011. Mr. Suthep also said Gen. Prayuth had informed him that the army would step in just ahead of the May 22 putsch. The Post reported Mr. Suthep as saying that Gen. Prayuth had told him that “it’s now the duty of the army to take over the task.”

Gen. Prayuth’s spokesman swiftly denied the report Monday, saying that the army chief hadn’t had any private exchanges with Mr. Suthep. Officials also leaked word that to local media that Gen. Prayuth was upset by Mr. Suthep’s remarks.

That’s not surprising. Mr. Suthep’s version of events takes the sheen off Gen. Prayuth’s attempts to portray himself as Thailand’s reluctant leader.