By Prashanth Parameswaran
Junta leader defiantly rebuts criticism directed against his administration.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha defiantly refuted criticisms of his junta government by America’s top Asian diplomat earlier this week, The Nation reported January 28.
On Monday, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel had urged the ruling junta to end martial law – still in place indefinitely – and to remove restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly in order to promote a more inclusive political process.
But Prayuth insisted that Thai democracy was alive and kicking, and that Thailand was a unique case where the military had sized power last May to restore democracy.
“Thai democracy will never die, because I’m a soldier with a democratic heart. I have taken over the power because I want democracy to live on,” Prayuth declared.
“We are building democracy every day…I did not seize power to give money away to this or that person or take it as my own property”.
According to The Nation, in response to Russel’s recommendation that Thailand should lift martial law, Prayuth said Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn had asked Russel what the United States would do if it faced a similar situation where martial law was necessary to maintain law and order. The envoy allegedly struggled to answer and said he would have to think about it.
Read the full story at The Diplomat