It was a polite statement with a strong message. Sonthi said: "Professional soldiers won't get involved with politics and politics shall do likewise. Good and professional soldiers follow state policies [but] state shall make sure they are not dragged into politics." Translation: "The military is not a personal tool or asset of any politician, and soldiers exist only to protect national sovereignty."

Somewhat conspicuously, Sonthi mentioned the rising "Class 10" - as caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's classmates from the Pre-Cadet Academy's Class 10 are often called - in his remarkable statement. "Soldiers can no longer stage a coup," he said. "That's what I have often told my younger brothers in the military, especially the Class 10. I told them if anyone was plotting anything, it would be very bad for the prime minister, who I think never wants that to happen. I have often told Class 10 that the prime minister himself would suffer if anyone did anything like that. I also told the prime minister always that if soldiers staged a coup, it would be bad for him."

Sonthi had also distanced the military from the anti-Thaksin movement, some of whose key members were keen to invite the armed forces' intervention to boost the campaign even though it would be at the expense of Thai democracy. Media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, during his anti-government rally at the Royal Plaza on February 4, sought military support by leading about 2,000 people to meet the Army chief at Army headquarters. Thaksin's arch-rival then claimed he had obtained the full support of the Army - a claim General Sonthi later rejected by saying he felt obliged to meet the marchers to ease the tension.

The Class 10 members are currently in command positions in many units stationed in or near the capital. Their connection with Thaksin has invariably put them in the political spotlight. In the eyes of political analysts, the only group that can provide a counterbalance are their seniors from Class 6, who are now at the top of the three armed forces. The seniors have gone through valuable lessons and experiences of what uncalled-for military intervention in politics will be met with. It was just 14 years ago this week that a bloody popular uprising sent politically ambitious generals into oblivion.

Ironically, we are commemorating the 1992 "May Uprising" with our top soldiers making rare sensible voices when democracy is under siege in a political power struggle and turmoil. The present stalemate, confrontation and near power vacuum would have provided a good pretext for military intervention 15 years ago. That it hasn't happened now is a blessing, and Thais must be thankful for professional soldiers like Sonthi and some of his respectable predecessors, including Wimon Wongwanich and Surayud Chulanont.

Maybe it's a "generation thing" - thanks to the "May Uprising" lessons - and slipping back to the bad old days cannot be totally ruled out. Class 10, who have aroused our scepticism, are poised to take bigger positions in a year or two after all. A cause for optimism, however, is the fact that the professionalism of our soldiers has been sustained for many years now. And when the present crop of top soldiers trust democracy, even when it's reeling from its worst flaws, we can only have hope.