BANGKOK, Feb 12 — Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Thursday clarified Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's reference to a coup d'etat which concerns the United States.
He also denied that the government was trying to pursue legal action against only one particular political party.
In response to US Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki's concern about Gen Prayut's reference to a coup in his interview during his visit to Japan, Maj Gen Sansern said that the prime minister meant that the coup happened when Thailand's normal political system had come to a dead end and that all Thai people are duty-bound to take good care of the country and participate in reform to introduce true democracy to prevent past incidents from recurring.
Gen Sansern stressed that the prime minister did not imply that another coup was possible in the future.
"I insist that the government maintains friendship with the US and other countries and adheres to the principle of co-existence with the global community. Therefore, there will not be adherence to any particular country. Relations and businesses with countries must be prioritized in the national interest. But the stance and movements of the US are understood as it must express itself as a country adhering to democracy," Maj Gen Sansern said.
Regarding the rumour that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra plans to seek political asylum, he said that she rested at home and made no movements.
She faces criminal and civil lawsuits, not a political one, and the government is not discriminating against any particular party as opponents of Ms Yingluck were brought to justice too, Gen Sansern said. (MCOT online news)
