Army chief safe: 'He's done no wrong'

Sukampol plays down coup remarks by General Bunlert

Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat has denied that his appointment was intended to defuse any attempt to stage a coup, insisting he would not transfer Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

"There is no plan to transfer the Army chief. He has done nothing wrong. He worked very hard during the floods,'' Sukampol said.

Speaking during an interview on the programme "Lab Luang Prang" on FM 100.5 yesterday, Sukampol urged the media to stop speculating on the possibility of another coup.

"No one wants to stage a coup. It is not easy now. We have all learnt a lesson. I have not come to solve the coup problem. That's not to say that now I'm here, there will not be a coup. It is not like that,'' he said.

Responding to General Bunlert Kaewprasit's comment that there would be a coup, and that the chances of it increased as the number of lese majeste offences being committed rose, the minister said he did not think the rising number of such offences was a reason to stage a coup.

Asked if he would play a role in the annual military reshuffle, Sukampol said he expected to use reason in performing his duties.

Asked how he would tackle divisions in the military between the Burapapayak and Wongthewan camps, he said the split had become the norm in the Army and he would not interfere in its affairs, only oversee policies.

During the same programme, General Bunlert spoke out against the move to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code relating to lese-majeste offences, calling on the Thai military to put its foot down.

"Section 112 must not be touched, or amended, as it involves the monarchy. The military must take action and not only speak. The monarchy has been insulted a lot over the past seven to eight years. If it continues too much, the military cannot tolerate it, they will stage a coup definitely. I was a rebel so I believe there will be [a coup]."

He also warned people who are not loyal to the monarchy that their activities will be short-lived.

He said he would like to see a coup if lese-majeste offences remain rife - not as a power grab, but to protect the monarchy.