Thai army chief urges upholding constitutional monarchy

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Thai army chief on Tuesday warned of civil war in the country, saying people should not attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, local media reported.

The statement of powerful Thai army chief comes in the backdrop of March 24 general elections held after a break of eight years in the Buddhist-majority country.

Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), a Bangkok-based an election observation and advocacy group, said in a statement last week the elections were “deeply flawed”.

According to daily Bankok Post, Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong said: “Politicians, lecturers and students must obey the rules and not try to overthrow the constitutional monarchy or the country could suffer another civil war.”

The country’s powerful army overthrew the then civilian government in 2014 and is ruling the country under National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) which is led by former Thai army general as prime minister.

“Those who studied democracy abroad and read other countries' textbooks must consider how they should be adapted instead of trying to change the constitutional monarchy. Do not introduce the left-wing policies you learned and try to pretend. Other countries do not do so,” Apirat said at a ceremony.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy since 1932 and the country has witnessed army rule for at least 12 times since then.

Addressing those who have studied abroad, Thai army chief said: “… some of whom received scholarships from the palace, I'd like to stress that no matter what kind of democracy you have studied, democracy has been adapted to suit different cultures around the world... In the world of democracy, there are many forms of democracy”

“Those who refuse to follow rules would only create problems and some parties should stop dividing Thai people by referring to democratic and dictatorial camps,” he said, adding: “Do we want another civil war like the past one? Why don't you follow rules and fight in the parliament?”

Denying NCPO was dictatorial, Apirat said, “[otherwise] the council would have copied the acts of dictators in other countries.”

The Thai army chief also added that social media was more “powerful than the armed forces' weapons”.