Anupong-Chavalit spat

Chavalit was critical of Anupong when he gave an interview insinuating about indecisiveness to lead the coup. He called on the Army chief to intervene because he saw the coup as the only way to end the political rifts.

Anupong countered he could think for himself and that he was completely in full grasp of the situation.

He said Chavalit might have been confused in trying to prod the military when he should be reflecting on his performance at the Cabinet meeting on the night of October 6 ahead of the crackdown.

Chavalit should ask himself what he dis or should have done after the government had given the green light for police to disperse the crowds, he said.

He went on to defend why he did not deploy soldiers for the crowd control operations by saying he did not want a military-police confrontation. "The people would be the ultimate victims if soldiers and police clashed," he said.

When violence erupted on September 1 involving opposing crowds, soldiers were dispatched to keep peace after police stood down, he said.