Another coup?

[Norseman]

Assistant Army chief Gen Saprang Kallayanamitr has revealed Thursday that CNS would tighten grips to get tough on those who have ill wished for the country.

CNS will readjust its strategies as the governmenbt is found too soft on the remnants of the previous regime.

"My boss has been too nice for those who have ill intention for the countryand the people. From now on, we would adjust our stragete and get tough on those people," Saprang said in a radio programme

Army chief and Council for National Security head Sonthi Bunyaratglin has flatly denied rumours sweeping the capital Thursday about an impending coup.

He denied troops moblisation from the Second Army Region base in Nakhon Ratchasima. "There's no such movement," said the leader of the September 19 coup.

He also dismissed speculation that the September 19 coup leaders were about to stage another coup to boost its own power.

Assistant Army Commander in Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has also denied intense rumours.

He said there would be neither a coup to topple the current interim leadership nor "self-coup" to boost the power of the September 19 coup leaders.

"I can guarantee 1,000 per cent that there would be neither coup," he said, totally denying rumours about troop mobilisation.

First coup rumours came Wednesday night, remarkably following the New Year bomb attacks in Bangkok. The rumours intensified Thursday evening, with 9.30 pm proclaimed to be the time to launch the coup.

At about 8 p.m, Army-run TV 5 denied there had been mobilization of troop against the authorities.



"The army urges the citizen not to believe the rumors and be confident in the our ability to control the situation. By now, the army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin assured the situation is normal," it said.



Another message running the TV5 screen said that the army chief would give an interview with the Siam This Morning program at 6.20 a.m. tomorrow, "please stay tune", it said.

At about 7pm Thursday, Gen Sonthi was exercising inside an Army compound in Kiakkai area while Air Force Commander in Chief Chalit Pukpasuk was playing golf in Chiang Mai.

Earlier, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday citizen should be alert and prepare for a "new threat" to national security after the New Year bombs in Bangkok.

The prime minister said he assigned the Internal Security Operations Command to ensure security in the capital and prevent a repeat of the bomb attacks.

Authorities had made some progress in collecting evidence that could lead to the arrest of culprits, he said.

[STEVE G]

He also dismissed speculation that the September 19 coup leaders were about to stage another coup to boost its own power.

I would be interested to see how you could have a coup to seize power from yourself! where would you send the tanks?

[STEVE G]

Contending forces appear to be emerging across a wide range of the power structure including within the police and military. Some political analysts are also theorizing that the bombings, which took the lives of three and injured nearly 30, could be the manifestations of a power struggle within the junta that took power after pushing deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power.

Asia Sentinel

[Guess]

At about 8 p.m, Army-run TV 5 denied there had been mobilization of troop against the authorities.

Authorities had made some progress in collecting evidence that could lead to the arrest of culprits, he said.

First statement very strange as most authorities seem to think that the military are in control.


As for arrests in Thailand they can mean anything but in this case my guess that whoever is responsible it will be blamed at those who the current regime think of as enemies.

I think they need some sort of PR assistance fairly quickly or they're going to look complete plonkers.

Nothing on the Internet Grapevine so far but haven' checked ATOnline yet.

[STEVE G]

The CNS gave itself more teeth by adopting a revolutionary decree empowering the prime minister to execute those who commit crimes against the country, the sources said.

The Nation.