Thai army chief rants at critics, warns of Hong Kong unrest

Thailand's powerful army chief declared Friday that the country's government is virtually at war with its critics, warning that politicians, academics and other intellectuals may "manipulate" young people to stage protests like those in Hong Kong.

Gen Apirat Kongsompong in a prepared speech to an audience at army headquarters charged that "hybrid warfare" incorporating methods such as online propaganda and more traditional violent means was already being employed in Thailand to destroy the nation.

It was unclear exactly what he was referring to because Thailand is not at war, the military and its allies are firmly in charge having run the country for the past five years, and a long-running insurgency is limited to the nation's three southernmost provinces.

Apirat's comments appeared largely aimed at opposition politicians who campaigned on efforts to reform the military but have not advocated war or violence.

Nevertheless, and he said the politicians were linked to former communists who he said never gave up efforts to seize power and were still trying to destabilize the country.

He didn't identify the politicians by name, but the context of his remarks made it clear he was including Thanathorn