Junta Asks Overseas Thais to Explain Coup to Foreigners

The secretary-general of Thailand’s ruling military junta has urged Thais living abroad to explain the reasons behind the May 2014 coup d’etat to foreigners.

“I want all of you who live abroad to explain the situation in our country to foreigners, so that they can understand what happened,” said Gen. Chatchalerm Chalermsuk. “That the military does not want to hold on to power, and how we have been trying to restore peace in the country and move the nation forward, and enforce the laws.”

Gen. Chatchalerm made the remark in an address to representatives of a Boston-based Thai charity who met with him at Government House in Bangkok to donate one million baht to soldiers stationed in southern Thailand to combat a separatist insurgency.

Gen. Chatchalerm said he has been explaining to foreign government officials during trips abroad that the military was forced to stage the coup on 22 May 2014 because the country’s political situation had reached a dead end.

“I have traveled to the United States and Australia to explain that this government will move along our road map, which will lead to an election,” Gen. Chatchalerm said. “In the past, we had no exit, because the [former] government would not resign … And there were groups that came out to oppose the government. The military was afraid that it would lead to clashes. We could not let the situation to escalate beyond our control.”

Full Story Here – Khaosod English

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