Thai Army: Conditions Not Right for Elections | WPN World People News

Thailand's military on Thursday said it does not know when the country will return to civilian rule, one week after seizing power in a coup.

Deputy chief of staff Chatchalerm Chalermsukh said although the military does not wish to stay in power, conditions are not right for elections.

"There are still protests. It shows that some people want to create turmoil. So it's impossible to hold elections at the moment," said Chatchalerm.

Chatchalerm said the coup, the army's 12th in 80 years, was necessary to keep Thailand from becoming a failed state.

The army has outlawed protests and detained hundreds of government officials, politicians, and anti-coup activists since taking power.

Most have since been freed after promising to not hold protests, but many more have been summoned to turn themselves in and some face prosecution.

Human Rights Watch on Thursday called on the Thai military to stop arresting peaceful critics and not subject civilians to military trials.

Specifically, it raised the case of ex-education minister Chaturon Chaisang, who is set to appear before a military court this week after denying an army summons.

The group's Asia director, Brad Adams, said "the military trial of a civilian without a lawyer or means to prepare a defense is really no trial at all, but a travesty of justice."

Thailand is largely divided between supporters and opponents of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is living in self-imposed exile after being ousted in a 2006 coup.

His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted as prime minister earlier this month by the Thai Supreme Court, following six months of opposition protests.

Although the protests were mostly peaceful, nearly 30 people were killed, mostly during attacks by unknown militants on the opposition demonstrations.

The army said Thursday that it wants to achieve reconciliation before holding elections, with Chatchalerm saying there needs to be a "period of time for all sides to cool down."

Source: Voice of America