The military had to "take over the administration" to restore national security and establish a sustainable democracy after social divisions are mended, according to National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak.
“Don’t call it a coup. The military action this time is totally different from the previous successful coups since the 1932 takeover," Col Werachon told a packed audience at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) on Wednesday night.
"Normally the civilian government sets up a civilian government, but now the military will restore peace and order, reconciliation, then elections and other systems to strengthen democracy."
Col Werachon repeated what the public has already been told, that the military had monitored the situation throughout the past decade of "a regime" that he did not mention by name.
The military, he said, had communicated with the past government and the People's Democratic Reform Committe (PDRC) and tried to defuse the conflict, but they had ignored all pleas he said.
Col Werachon did not mention the name of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose influence was cited by the anti-Pheu Thai government PDRC as the reason for the six-month “Bangkok Shutdown” protest.
NCPO: We'll mend social divisions, restore national security and establish sustainable democracy.
He said the government was paralysed and there was no full body of any authority to approve a budget and enact laws.
"The aspect of a security impasse (then) was greater than the economic aspects as militants were waging violence.
"We think that we could wait until Thailand has a more mature democracy - a sustainable democracy. We know of the consequences and we weighed between having flawed democracy and well-being and safety of the people. We chose the latter," the spokesman said.
The NCPO would help build strong security for the nation with a new set of values for our own and the next generation, said Col Werachon. It was a daunting task, but until the divisions could be mended then the general election and other democratic forms could not fully take shape.
He said despite the military intervention in seizing the administration of the country, Thailand still wanted to be a member of the international community, and that was why the military would like to seek mutual understanding from the foreign media as well as diplomats.
Asked about the secrecy surrounding the location, lack of access by relatives and families of the political activists under detention or arrest, he said the military was operating within martial law, and asked the media not to call it detention.
“We just asked them to talk, but yes the lodging might not be air-conditioned. Some, we asked them to stay for a few days, some seven days and some could return home within a day, such as former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra who was invited for a conversation and lunch.
"Then, she was free to go back home on the same day,” said Col Werachon.
He did not reply when asked if the summoning procedures and charging process could be more accountable and streamlined across all regions, as people in provinces got different treatment from the local military regional commander.
He did not respond when asked why no asset scrutiny committee was set up, like the previous 2006 coup when the Thaksin cabinet members were investigated for their dubious wealth, or whether the NCPO would ask neighbouring countries to "extradite" those active in exile.
“We will do things within the legal parameters. Any lawsuits that need to be made, will proceed. Any cooperation needed, a request will be made,” said Col Werachon.
He also rebutted the notion that the NCPO chased after the red-shirts, "There's no discrimination here. The country needs to unite and the reconciliation centres are doing the job in all provinces," Col Werachon said.
He emphasised that those detained were not political prisoners but people who broke the law and needed to adjust their attitude. There were 10 to 15 of them, he said.
"The United States also has the Patriot Act, we also have a mechanism to deal with elements that threaten national security," said Col Werachon, adding that more governments now understand the situation in Thailand.