History about to repeat itself?

Gen Sonthi eyes political role
By Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post, 12 July 2007

The Army chief and coup-maker aims to prevent the return of Thaksin. Long gone is the promise to stay out of politics for two years as history, it seems, is about to repeat itself.

As army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin moves closer to retirement on Sept 30, his move into politics is becoming more certain.

Gen Sonthi told a press conference on Sept 20 last year, one day after ousting then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, that the coup makers would not prolong their hold on power.

"We will note in the interim charter that the CDR [Council for Democratic Reform] will not get involved in politics for two years," he said. However, the interim charter, when it was completed, did not contain such a clause.

The CDR later changed its name to the Council for National Security.

Nine months later, Gen Sonthi signalled his intention to enter the race for parliament. Although he never made his plans clear, he also never denied the possibility of a political career.

"I have not made a decision. We'll talk about it when the time is right," is a typical reply.

His remarks have led to the emergence of opponents who believe the military leaders will try to prolong their hold on power, with Gen Sonthi aiming for the prime ministership.

Gen Sonthi is not alone in quietly making plans for his political life. His partners in the junta are active on his behalf too.

Gen Winai Phatthiyakul, the CNS secretary-general and his pre-cadet classmate, is busy persuading former Thai Rak Thai MPs to abandon their old boss Thaksin Shinawatra.

This is a bid to weaken the former ruling party, which controlled the country for five years with solid political support from grassroots voters, especially in the North and Northeast.

Sources revealed that Gen Sonthi also asked assistant army chief and CNS deputy secretary-general Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr to find political allies, along with financiers who can come up with the few billion baht needed to realise his political future. Gen Sonthi's political priority is to prevent Mr Thaksin and the old power clique from coming back and taking their revenge on him.

He doubts the Democrat party, which now has the advantage going into the general election, can cope with the sophisticated and financially robust Mr Thaksin and his followers.

He is following the path of the National Peace-Keeping Council (NPKC) which staged a coup in 1991 and triggered the pro-democracy uprising in May 1992.

He is looking to emulate NPKC key figure Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon, the army chief who led the previous coup on Feb 23, 1991, and then became prime minister.

Gen Saprang, the assistant army chief, is following in the footsteps of Gen Issarapong Noonpakdi.

Gen Issarapong succeeded Gen Suchinda as the army chief. Gen Issarapong was securing the army while Gen Suchinda was securing politics.

History, it seems, is about to repeat itself.