The Thai people and the media need to have confidence in the army and its ability to deal with difficult issues in the southern border provinces and on the Cambodian border, says a spokesman.
Col Winthai Suvaree said the army had to settle conflicts in line with the relevant rules, agreements and legitimate orders.
The deputy army spokesman was commenting in light of fierce criticism directed at the army chief, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, by ASTV Manager, a media group sympathetic to anti-government yellow shirts.
The army had come up with problem-solving measures but some of them could not be publicised as the publicity could jeopardise delicate efforts to resolve conflicts, he said.
Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha had insisted that the army would listen to and take into account opinions from all sectors for the best interest of the country, said Col Winthai.
More importantly, he said, the resolution of the border dispute with Cambodia near the Preah Vihear temple must be acceptable to the general public, but it must not be against the laws and regulations of the country, he added.
He called on people and groups not to consider the army as their opponent just because it failed to support their demands.