Watching the general
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has promised the military will remain neutral in the upcoming election, but not everyone is convinced.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has promised the military will remain neutral in the upcoming election, but not everyone is convinced.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha
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Military promises put to test
Wassana Nanuam
Despite the military's repeated assurances it will not interfere in the election, the rising popularity of Pheu Thai Party and its No.1 party-list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra has had many speculating whether the armed forces will really keep their promise.
Last week's outburst by army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha against alleged intimidation of military members of the government anti-narcotics task force by a Pheu Thai election candidate and his aides has added to the jitters.
The military staged a coup on Sept 19, 2006, to overthrow Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's elder brother. If Pheu Thai wins the election and former prime minister Thaksin returns to Thailand through an amnesty, the power seizure – in the view of those who engineered it – would be tantamount to a total waste.
More importantly, those behind the coup could be possible targets of revenge from Thaksin, particularly Gen Prayuth who assisted former army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, one of the key players behind the coup, on that day.
Although Thaksin has said he would not take revenge if he returns, it seems the armed forces are not convinced.
A number of unit commanders in the army have been reshuffled to consolidate the power of those behind the coup and officers behind the crackdowns of pro-Thaksin red shirt protesters on May 19 last year.
While several opinion polls show the popularity of Pheu Thai and Ms Yingluck is rising, political observers are keen to see how the military will react.
Although Gen Prayuth has assured that soldiers will not get involved in politics, last week's comments by Chartthaipattana leader Chumpol Silpa-archa about the role of an "irresistible power" in the formation of the present government has placed the military once more in the spotlight.
Mr Chumpol has said his party actually did not want to join the Democrat Party in forming the present coalition, but it was forced to by this "irresistible power". He did not elaborate on who this power was.
Armed forces leaders, including Gen Prayuth, reportedly invited politicians for a talk at the 1st Infantry Regiment to lobby them to support the Democrat-led government in December 2008. Both the military and the Democrat Party have vehemently denied this.
Gen Prayuth recently emphasised the military will remain neutral.
He has prohibited soldiers from participating in counting votes, transporting ballot boxes and acting as polling station committee members.
He has allowed them to guard polling stations and also permit all parties to campaign in army camps.
"I assure that the formation of a government in a military camp will not occur," he said.
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assurance – a promise; a guarantee การรับประกัน, การรับรอง
interfere – to deliberately become involved in a situation and try to influence the way that it develops, although you have no right to do this แทรกแซง
popularity – a situation in which someone or something is liked by many people ความเป็นที่นิยม, ความเป็นที่ชื่นชอบ
speculate – to consider or discuss what might happen คาดการณ์ อนุมาน
interfere – to deliberately become involved in a situation and try to influence the way that it develops, although you have no right to do this แทรกแซง
party-list – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
outburst – a sudden strong expression of an emotion การระเบิดออก,การเดือดพล่าน,การหลั่งออก
alleged – claimed to be true although not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
intimidation – deliberately making someone feel frightened, especially so that they will do what you want ขู่ขวัญ
narcotics – illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine ยาเสพย์ติด
task force – a group of people who are brought together to do a particular job, or a large military group who have a military aim to achieve คณะทำงานเฉพาะกิจ, กองกำลังเฉพาะกิจ
aide – someone whose job is to help another person in their work ผู้ช่วย
jitters – feelings of being anxious and nervous, especially before an important event or before having to do something difficult กระวนกระวาย, ว้าวุ่นใจ
coup (d’etat) – the seizure of power in a country by a small group of people, especially members of the armed forces การทำรัฐประหาร
stage a coup – to forcefully seize power ใช้กำลังยึดอำนาจและเปลี่ยนแปลงรัฐบาล
overthrow – to force a leader or government out of power ขับไล่ออกจากอำนาจ
elder – older ที่อายุมากกว่า
amnesty – a situation in which a government agrees not to punish people who have committed a crime การนิรโทษกรรม
seizure – the act of taking control of something, especially by using power or force การบุกเข้ายึด
engineer – to arrange for something to happen, especially in a useful and skilful way วางแผน
tantamount to – tantamount to being almost the same or having the same effect as, usually something bad เท่ากัน
target – to direct something at someone or something ตั้งเป็นเป้าหมาย
revenge – something that you do to hurt or punish someone because they have hurt you or someone else การแก้แค้น
assist – to help ช่วย
key – most important ที่สำคัญ
convinced – certain; sure แน่ใจ, มั่นใจ
unit – a group of people who work or live together, especially for a particular purpose หน่วย,กอง,กลุ่ม
commander – the head of an army or army unit ผู้บังคับบัญชา
reshuffle – the process of changing the jobs or responsibilities of people in a particular group or organisation การปรับหรือโยกย้ายตำแหน่งคนในองค์กร
consolidate – to make the power, position or achievements you already have stronger or more effective รวมเป็นหนึ่ง
crackdown – strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity การใช้กำลังเข้าปราบปรามของเจ้าหน้าที่
poll – an occasion when a lot of people are asked about what they feel about something – การสำรวจความคิดเห็น
observer – a person who watches and analyses a situation ผู้สังเกตการณ์
keen – very interested, eager or wanting (to do) something very much สนใจ, ใจจดใจจ่อ
react – to change or behave in a particular way as a result of or in response to something เกิดปฏิกิริยา
irresistible – so something that cannot be stopped of defeated ที่ต้านทานไม่ได้
spotlight – the centre of public attention จุดสนใจของผู้คน, เป็นที่สนใจ
coalition – a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together พรรคร่วมรัฐบาล
elaborate – to add more information to or explain something that you have said อธิบายเพิ่มเติม
infantry – soldiers who fight on foot, not on horses or in tanks or other vehicles ทหารราบ
regiment – a large group of soldiers กรมทหาร, กองทหาร
lobby – to try to influence a politician or the government and, for example, persuade them to support or oppose a change in the law
vehemently – showing very strong feelings, especially anger อย่างรุนแรง, อย่างรุ่มร้อน
deny – to say that something is not true or does not exist ปฏิเสธ
emphasise – to stress something such as an idea, fact or detail; to explain why something is important เน้น
neutral – not supporting either side in a disagreement, competition or war เป็นกลาง, ไม่ฝักใฝ่ฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่ง
prohibit – to not allow; to ban ห้าม
transport – to move people or things from one place to another ขนส่ง
ballot – the piece of paper on which someone marks who they are voting for บัตรเลือกตั้ง
campaign – to take part in a planned series of activities (a campaign) designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party รณรงค์หาเสียง
occur – to happen เกิดขึ้น