Prem, military and monarchy
As is his pattern when politics gets a little steamy, Privy Council boss General Pem Tinsulanonda has again called on the military brass to serve the monarchy.
It might at first sight seem innocuous that a bunch of high-ranking officers of all armed forces call on the 91 year-old former prime minister to, as the Bangkok Post puts it, “to give him a New Year blessing.” However, Prem plays politics at every chance he has, so his statements betray a deliberate political attack on the very system of government in place in Thailand.
When the former prime minister states “he still regards himself as part of the armed forces, feels glad when they are praised and feels sorry for them if they are rebuked,” he is making a political link between an era when the military ran government. That is, the period when he was unelected premier in place because he had the support of the military and palace. When he urges the “leading members of the armed forces to learn from their past experience and lessons and remain united to cope with any situation which may arise,” he is promoting an unelected political force.
When the old man says: “One thing of which I am confident is that if the armed forces are united and have power and dignity, they can surely cope with situations. I would like the defence minister and the armed forces chiefs to join forces and work for the national interest. I wish the defence minister and you all to be healthy and loyal to the institution that we respect and are responsible for…”, he is acting to preserve a particular political arrangement that is conservative and hierarchical.
For PPT, Prem is promoting a political system that is managed by guns and coups. He isn’t interested in elections or constitutions.
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