Armed forces boss spurns run for PM

Armed forces boss spurns run for PM

SUPREME COMMANDER URGES DIALOGUE

Supreme Commander Tanasak Patimapragorn is optimistic that dialogue will bring about a solution to the political conflict, as he poured cold water on rumours he would run for the prime minister's job."They had better take this crisis as an opportunity to initiate talks as soon as possible," Gen Tanasak said.

"To have dialogue doesn't necessarily mean the protests will have to stop. Instead, it will mean all sides could achieve a win-win situation."

He was apparently referring to Friday's grenade attack on a People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) march on Banthat Thong Road which left one person dead and dozens wounded.

Without talks, neither side would be able to find a way out of the political impasse, Gen Tanasak said. Protesting was more or less equal to casting a vote in an election, as long as the law is not violated, he said.

"The opinions of a hundred different people can never be the same, but there must be some common ground in them," he said. "Even though the opinions of the country's 40 million eligible voters are different, they probably hold similarities to some extent.

"I have only the one wish now, which is that everyone sits down and talks, and that they are all safe. This is the military's stance at this time."

Talks were important to prevent further conflicts, but to keep the promises given at talks was as important as the dialogue itself, he said.

Asked whether the military would be willing to take the role of mediator in talks between the government and its opponents, Gen Tanasak said whoever the go-between was would have to be acceptable to all sides.

Both sides were probably eager to engage in talks, but they could not find an ideal mediator.

The military also could not think of anyone, he said.

Asked about rumours that he would be made prime minister in order to take up the role as mediator in peace talks, Gen Tanasak said he had no interest in the role.

As for the military working with the police to maintain law and order during the political protests, Gen Tanasak said the task had to continue and military officers had no problem doing their jobs because they were following orders.

In response to attempts by some sides to push for the United States to step in to help resolve the political conflict, Gen Tanasak said this was an internal matter that should be resolved within the country.

He said he had had talks with the military leaders of other countries from time to time and assured them that the Thai military would strictly follow the rules.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (3)