Anupong: Only a political solution will do
- Published: 13/04/2010
- Bangkok Post
Army chief Anupong Paojinda made clear during a news conference at the Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situations yesterday that there can only be a political solution to the stand-off. Wassana Nanuam recorded his comments.
Army commander Anupong Paojinda is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban at a news conference yesterday at the Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situations. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
What will be the army's stance if the government wants to retake a protest site?
It depends on whether it will be acceptable to society. [It has to consider] the number of people there and whether any action will lead to losses. There must not be a repeat of what happened on Oct 7, 2008 [blockade of parliament].
You once said of the Oct 7 incident that the government could not stand on the bodies and the blood of the people. Do you think this government can stay on?
The military is a mechanism of the state. It is the main institution which must be one with the people.
Is the political situation continuing as it is because you want to stay in place with your retirement approaching?
I never have thought that. No matter what people have said since the time of the Council for National Security, I have been doing my duty. Today I ordered a large number of forces nationwide to gather at the 11th Infantry Regiment. But that is on the condition that the government must have the right policies.
If there is anything which cannot be done, I will tell the government that it cannot be done.
When I make a decision, I never think about whether I am protecting myself. I base my decisions on the interests of the nation and the army.
Are military operations suspended to give political negotiations a chance?
If it causes problems and does not benefit society, I won't send [troops] out on to the streets. Situations can worsen and I think political situations can be resolved. All parties should pay attention to this and we should pressure them to talk.
Military action should not have to occur and that is why I am not deploying soldiers on the streets [now]. If soldiers have to be sent out again, there will be more clashes.
You once said on TV [after the Oct 7, 2008, clashes] that if lives were lost, the government could not stay and must dissolve the parliament.
Did I say that? No, I didn't. I and the armed forces chiefs were on TV then because of two cases. Those were the case of seriously insulting the [highest] institution and the case of referring to the institution for one's gain. At that time, we thought we were soldiers of the nation, so we sought the airtime. But the host asked me about the Oct 7 incident and what the prime minister [Somchai Wongsawat] should do. I then said that if I were him, I would not stay in power.
If the question is repeated today following the April 10 incident, what would you say?
Today the context and society are different. If politicians cannot solve the problem and the key issue at present is the parliament's dissolution, then I understand that the House must be dissolved. When that is needs to be discussed. I understand that this must end up with a dissolution of the House or a national government [shrugs his shoulders]. I don't know. They must talk it out. I want peace only.
Politicians are [using political solutions] but got stuck at one point and I do not know why.
I believe that things must return to the political stage and everything must be resolved there.
No matter whether it turns out to be satisfactory or not, everyone must stop and society will make its decision because all issues concern society and politics. Now they are working on it and that should end the problem.
You once said of the Oct 7 incident that the government could not stand on the bodies and the blood of the people. Do you think this government can stay on?
The military is a mechanism of the state. It is the main institution which must be one with the people.
Is the political situation continuing as it is because you want to stay in place with your retirement approaching?
I never have thought that. No matter what people have said since the time of the Council for National Security, I have been doing my duty. Today I ordered a large number of forces nationwide to gather at the 11th Infantry Regiment. But that is on the condition that the government must have the right policies.
If there is anything which cannot be done, I will tell the government that it cannot be done.
When I make a decision, I never think about whether I am protecting myself. I base my decisions on the interests of the nation and the army.
Are military operations suspended to give political negotiations a chance?
If it causes problems and does not benefit society, I won't send [troops] out on to the streets. Situations can worsen and I think political situations can be resolved. All parties should pay attention to this and we should pressure them to talk.
Military action should not have to occur and that is why I am not deploying soldiers on the streets [now]. If soldiers have to be sent out again, there will be more clashes.
You once said on TV [after the Oct 7, 2008, clashes] that if lives were lost, the government could not stay and must dissolve the parliament.
Did I say that? No, I didn't. I and the armed forces chiefs were on TV then because of two cases. Those were the case of seriously insulting the [highest] institution and the case of referring to the institution for one's gain. At that time, we thought we were soldiers of the nation, so we sought the airtime. But the host asked me about the Oct 7 incident and what the prime minister [Somchai Wongsawat] should do. I then said that if I were him, I would not stay in power.
If the question is repeated today following the April 10 incident, what would you say?
Today the context and society are different. If politicians cannot solve the problem and the key issue at present is the parliament's dissolution, then I understand that the House must be dissolved. When that is needs to be discussed. I understand that this must end up with a dissolution of the House or a national government [shrugs his shoulders]. I don't know. They must talk it out. I want peace only.
Politicians are [using political solutions] but got stuck at one point and I do not know why.
I believe that things must return to the political stage and everything must be resolved there.
No matter whether it turns out to be satisfactory or not, everyone must stop and society will make its decision because all issues concern society and politics. Now they are working on it and that should end the problem.
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