Thai army chief dismisses speculation on new coup

Bangkok, Feb 2 (TNA) Thailand''s Army Commander-in-ChiefGeneral Prayuth Chan-ocha dismissed as groundless speculativereports that the Thai military was planning a new coup d''�tatto topple the Democrat Party-led government of Thai PrimeMinister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

General Prayuth asked local journalists yesterday neverto question him on the baseless issue again, insisting that heis a pro-democracy army chief, tasked with upholding thenational sovereignty and securing social peace for the public.

The Thai army chief stressed that national problems areto be addressed through legal procedures, not militaryintervention.

Meanwhile, Thai Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej saidthat Thailand is moving ahead on the right track and hepersonally views that the national development process shouldnot be disrupted again by any coup.

Prasopsuk noted that Thailand''s new general election isforeseen in the near future, after the completion of ongoingCharter amendment processes, to return the constitutionalrights to the Thai electorate in order to decide on their ownthe new Thai government. (TNA)