BANGKOK, June 30 — Thailand’s military has no intention of staging a coup, said Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who dismissed speculation sparked by a recent protest calling for military intervention amid growing tension over the Thailand-Cambodia issue.
Phumtham, who met with the commanders of all four branches of the Armed Forces, said they viewed the nation’s current challenges as problems that need to be addressed constructively.
“The idea of a coup is not in the military’s thoughts. Their focus is on resolving the nation’s problems,” he told the press today.
On Saturday (June 28), thousands gathered at Victory Monument in Bangkok to express their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s handling of the Thai-Cambodia border issue.
Phumtham added that peaceful protests are a constitutional right and welcomed constructive proposals, but cautioned that escalating protests would not be productive.
He revealed that the government had already submitted a request to the monarchy for a Cabinet reshuffle aimed at addressing key issues and driving national progress.
— Bernama
