Thailand's army chief said the country's six-month political deadlock must be solved through legal means as supporters and opponents of the government held competing rallies in Bangkok, raising the risk of fresh clashes.
"A military coup will not end the conflict," Army Chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha said on Saturday in Bangkok. "A coup will attract a lot of criticism. The conflict must be resolved through a legal framework."
Thailand's crisis has its roots in the the removal of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in a 2006 coup, with opponents aiming to end his family's influence over politics. Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted as premier on May 7 for abuse of power, leaving acting leader Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan to hold on to power until an election tentatively planned for July 20.
"The Cabinet, led by the acting prime minister, will continue its duty under the law until there is a new government from elections," Niwattumrong told reporters on Saturday. "If the nation can walk on the path of democracy, problems will be solved peacefully."
Yingluck, 46, endured more than six months of protests by opponents who accuse her family of crony capitalism and using populist policies to secure the support of rural voters. She was forced to step down May 7 after the Constitutional Court found her guilty of abuse of power, and an anti-graft agency a day later ruled she was derelict in her role overseeing a rice-subsidy program, a charge that could lead to a five-year ban from politics.
Suthep's demands
Anti-government protesters rallied outside television stations for a second day today to pressure broadcasters to carry statements by leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former opposition politician who wants a "people's council" to implement unspecified reforms before elections are held. Suthep faces charges of sedition and treason linked to the latest protest, and murder charges stemming from his time as deputy prime minister in 2010, when he oversaw a military crackdown on Thaksin supporters in Bangkok that killed more than 90 people.
With the army reluctant to intervene to break the impasse, Suthep repeated a call today for the nation's Senate and top courts to appoint a prime minister.
