Thailand's Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin on Monday reiterated he had not yet decided to enter politics, but indicated that no one is prohibited from playing politics under the democratic system.
Sonthi said military officers have the right to enter politics after retirement it they want to, and whether they would be successful depends on people's decision, Thai News Agency quoted him as saying.
As for his own future, Sonthi said, he had not yet decided whether he would enter politics or not after retirement.
Sonthi will retire as Army Commander-in-Chief at the end of this September and will quit as the CNS chairman after an elected government takes over state power after the general election, tentatively set to he held in December.
The CNS chief also denied that he was worried that former members of the now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai party will win a majority in the election under the new banner of the People's Power party.
He said corruption cases recently unveiled by the Asset Examination Committee and other agencies have helped the public better understand the Council for Democratic Reform, now known as the CNS, would stage a coup on September 19, 2006 to oust the former government of Thaksin Shinawatra, founder and former leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont echoed Sonthi, said that it was a personal right for any military officers to enter politics.
He made the remarks when asked to comment on the efforts of General Panlop Pinmanee, now an advisor to the Internal Security Operations Command, to enter the political arena.
Panlop came under attacks from critics for striving to become a politician when he is still wearing an army uniform.
Surayud refused to comment on Sonthi's political future, saying that it would be rude of him to do so when Sonthi hasn't decided himself.
However, he added that it would be all up to the people to decide who will lead the country.
Source: Xinhua
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