Thai army chief: If I was PM I would resign
Thailand's army chief admits he would resign if he was in the position of embattled prime minister Somchai Wongsawat
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Friday, 17, Oct 2008 02:01
Thailand's army chief has admitted that he would resign if he was in embattled prime minister Somchai Wongsawat's position.
Mr Somchai only assumed power in September, but his premiership has been stung by mass protests and accusations of police brutality.
Three activists were killed and hundreds wounded when police broke up an anti-government rally with tear gas grenades last week. Many of the wounded protestors lost limbs and feet when the grenades exploded.
Speaking as 5,000 protestors from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) thronged the streets of Bangkok on Friday, General Anupong Paochinda said Mr Somchai's position was becoming untenable.
"If I were the prime minister and a violent dispersal of protesters happened and caused loss of lives and resulted in injuries, I would definitely resign," he said.
But Gen Anupong, who helped install a new government after then PM Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a 2006 coup, said there were no plans to replace the current prime minister.
According to the PAD, Mr Somchai, Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law, is a proxy for the former prime minister.
The same accusation was levelled against Mr Somchai's predecessor, Samak Sundaravej.