Army chief Apirat Kongsompong has shrugged off an online campaign demanding that he be impeached over remarks that opponents have said were divisive.
However, Gen Apirat said that he couldn't care less as he is not a politician.
On Tuesday, he warned against any efforts to change the country's constitutional monarchy and divide the people, saying the country could suffer a civil war as a result.
"Let them [the opponents] do whatever they want … I've been through a lot before and I'm not a politician who is up for impeachment," Gen Apirat was quoted as saying at an army meeting .
He was referring to the online petition via change.org, trying to drum up support for his impeachment.
National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Winthai Suvaree said the campaign was nothing more than a symbolic move. The petition is not legally binding on the army chief who also serves as secretary-general of the NCPO.
He said the army's legal team has not considered legal action against people behind the campaign although the move could be construed as defamation.