Yingluck: No Messing Around With Army Chief
Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday she will by no means tamper with the chores of army chief Gen Prayudh Chan-ocha.
The woman premier made her comments following her official visit to the headquarters of the Internal Security Operations Command during which she met with Gen Prayudh and other top military leaders. In company of the premier was Defense Minister Gen Yuttasak Sasiprapa.
Yingluck said she will not interfere with the affairs of the army chief or those of the other military leaders and only will look to cooperate in pursuit of national and public interests.
Remarkably, the premier commented Gen Prayudh will remain top commander of the army who, she said, is not going to be replaced for any reason.
''The government will certainly continue to support the army's affairs and will definitely not transfer the army chief,'' said Yingluck, whose brother, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was deposed in 2006's coup which sent him globetrotting in exile since.
Yingluck added she has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Pol Gen Kowit Wattana to take care of the ISOC while leaving all the other armed services practically free of government control.
Her comments dampened earlier speculation Gen Prayudh and other top brass members might probably be transferred under pressure from some Puea Thai Party members and Red Shirt activists who invariably held the military chiefs, past and present, accountable for last year's army crackdowns on anti-government protesters.
Produced by VoiceTV
|
