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Thailand coup 'failed'
07/02/2008 12:04 - (SA)
Bangkok - Thailand's junta said on Thursday that the coup 16 months ago had failed to achieve its goal of erasing the influence of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whose allies have formed a new elected government.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Wednesday unveiled a cabinet packed with Thaksin's closest aides, in a stunning political comeback for supporters of the flamboyant billionaire who has lived in exile since the putsch in September 2006.
The junta that toppled him held a briefing early on Thursday to announce that its Council for National Security (CNS) had officially dissolved to make room for the elected government to take power.
"The CNS was not able to achieve 100% of our goals under (the) circumstances," said the junta's leader, air force chief Chalit Pukbhasuk.
"I hope people understand the CNS was not trying to grab power. We have done our best, but the way things turned out did not live up to our expectations. We cannot blame anyone but ourselves," he told reporters.
"There should not be any more coups, because that would affect our country's credibility while other socialist, dictatorial countries are pushing for democracy," he said.
"If we are not democratic, we would be pressured like our neighbour," he said, apparently referring to military-ruled Myanmar.
"That would have a negative impact on our people and our economy," he added.
Chalit also vowed to work with the new elected government, even though Samak rebuffed their efforts to name a general as defence minister.
Samak instead claimed the post for himself, becoming only the third civilian ever to hold the post in Thailand.
"National security affairs are not restricted to just the military. He can choose capable advisers in military affairs and we can work along with him. We must have confidence in democratic rule," he said.
The man who actually led the coup, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, retired from the military in September in order to become a deputy prime minister in the army-installed government.
He was not at the briefing attended by the other junta members.
Chalit also issued a statement apologising for any disruption caused by the coup.
"If any of our actions caused disruptions to the public, on behalf of the CNS I would like to offer our apologies," he said in the statement.
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