A government spokesman on Thursday tried to walk back comments by Prime Minister Prayut in a Japanese newspaper interview, denying that the former army chief implied that another coup d'etat was possible.
Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd: The prime minister does not expect another coup.
Deputy spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that Gen Prayut tried to emphasize that if Thai citizens did not want to see another coup, they all need to support national reform and efforts to introduce true democracy.
In an interview published Tuesday in the Nihon Keizai Shinbun, Japan's largest financial daily, the general said the military "has its proper role as a government agency. "
Asked about the possibility of another coup. Gen Prayut didn't answer directly, but said that "Thailand is different from other countries. If something cannot be solved, the military will solve it."
United States State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday that the general's comments raised "significant concerns," but did not elaborate.
Responding to the US comments, Maj Gen Sansern said Gen Prayut's Nikkei comments meant the armed forces had had to take actions to solve problems because the normal political system of the country had hit a dead end. He insisted the prime minister did not communicate that there would be another coup in the future.
The prime minister wanted to say that the country had faced unrest due to conflicts among political groups and Thai people should help the country develop a true democracy that would also suit its context, the deputy government spokesman said.