Thai army assures it will remain neutral

Thailand’s army has said that it had no intention to carry out a coup even as the country has plunged into a political crisis. Bhumjaithai, partner of Pheu Thai Party, withdrew from the coalition, leaving Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra government in a minority.

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The crisis broke out when a recorded private conversation between Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian president Hun Sen was made public, in which the Thai prime minister made a partisan reference to a Thai general in the outbreak of hostility on the Thai-Cambodia border.

Bhumjaithai saw the reference to serving Thai commander as “opponent” by Paetongtarn as an insult to the army. Paetongtarn has since apologized, but the crisis shows no signs of going away. The Thai army’s assuring statement that it would confine itself to the task of defending the country's sovereignty and that the country would remain a democracy with the king as the constitutional head.

Thailand's opposition leader of People’s Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawat, demanded that Paetongtarn should step down, dissolve the parliament and go for fresh election. The government took office two years ago. Natthaphong is clear that the Paetongtarn had failed to govern the country.