Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimaprakorn and the leaders of the armed forces are to discuss the controversial audio clip said to be a conversation between Deputy Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa and deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and hold a press conference to announce the military's stance on the matter, air force chief Prajin Jantong said on Tuesday.
ACM Prajin was referring to the clip of an alleged conversation between the two discussing a plot to seek support from the armed forces, the Defence Council and the National Security Council, to allow government to issue an executive decree to grant an amnesty to bring Thaksin home without being punished for any wrongdoing.
In the conversation, the two persons in the clip also touch on the possibility of amending the Defence Ministry's regulations governing military reshuffles and the government's control of the armed forces. The names of all armed forces commanders were mentioned in the conversation.
Asked whether the armed forces still had faith in Gen Yutthasak, ACM Prajin did not directly reply to the question. He said the armed forces chiefs would adhere to their duties to protect the interests of the country when they announced their stance on the matter.
He added that the statement would reaffirm their intentions of safeguarding the nation, religion and the monarchy.
Asked whether it would be acceptable if Thaksin returned to the country and washed his hands of politics, the air force chief said the armed services would adhere to two principles on their judgment of any such event: people in the country must be united and the rule of law must be maintained.
On the possibility of issuing an amnesty executive decree, ACM Prajin said the top brass would meet to discuss the matter. "After that we will announce our stance," he said, but did not say when their meeting would take place.
Asked whether Gen Yuthasak would have to resign over the scandal to show that he was taking responsibility, ACM Prajin said he would rather not comment, adding that he wanted to look more thoroughly into the clip and consult with other armed forces commanders.
He said he was still not sure if the clip was real. "I hope it's not," he added.
Asked to comment on Gen Thanasak, the supreme commander, and Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief, ACM Prajin said he still had confidence in the two, although the alleged conversation made it seem as though they already knew of the plot to bring Thaksin home with an executive decree.
Gen Thanasak and Gen Prayuth would be the best people to answer that question, he said.
On whether he thought the matter of the audio clip could lead to a coup, ACM Prajin said: "This should not happen. Nobody wants it to happen."