Tanasak Patimapragorn, supreme commander of
Thailand’s armed forces (L), welcomes Burma’s army chief General Min Aung
Hlaing during a visit to Bangkok. (Photo: www.nationtv.tv)
BANGKOK
— Thailand’s military on Friday compared
its seizure of power in May to restore stability after months of unrest to the
brutal crackdown by Burma’s former junta in 1988 to snuff out a pro-democracy
movement.
Thailand’s
military justified its intervention by the need to restore stability after
months of unrest and demonstrations by pro and anti-government protesters.
Perhaps
unwittingly, the deputy chief of the Thai junta likened its seizure of power to
one of the darkest chapters in the rule of Burma’s junta, its crushing of
pro-democracy protests in 1988 when at least 3,000 people were killed.
“Myanmar’s
government agrees with what Thailand is doing in order to return stability to
the nation. Myanmar had a similar experience to us in 1988, so they
understand,” said Tanasak Patimapragorn, supreme commander of Thailand’s armed
forces, following a visit to Bangkok by Burma’s army chief General Min Aung
Hlaing.
Burma’s
junta stepped aside in 2011 after nearly five decades of repressive rule and a
nominally civilian government full of former military people has pushed through
political reforms, freeing hundreds of political prisoners and unmuzzling the
press.
In
contrast, Thailand’s army seized power after months of street protests designed
to oust elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra.
It has
effectively banned criticism by the media and arrested pro-democracy protesters
for such innocuous acts as reading books in public that are critical of
totalitarian regimes, such as George Orwell’s “1984”.
Yingluck
was found guilty of abuse of power and ordered to step down by a court on May 7
in what her supporters say was a move by the military-backed royalist
establishment to eliminate her family’s political influence. The coup on May 22
cleared out what was left of her government.
The
visit by Burma’s military commander, General Min Aung Hlaing, marks the second
by a foreign official since the coup, after that of Malaysia’s defense
minister.
Thai
officials have visited other Asian countries such as China and Cambodia to seek
support as a counterweight to the condemnation of Western countries. The United
States and European Union have both downgraded diplomatic ties.
Thailand
has been sharply divided since 2006 when Yingluck’s brother, then premier
Thaksin Shinawatra, was toppled by the army. Critics, mostly drawn from the
Bangkok-based conservative establishment, said he had abused power and harbored
republican aspirations, accusations he denied.
Dissent
Silenced
On
Thursday the military said it had drafted an interim constitution but gave no
details on its content. Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the ruling National
Council for Peace and Order, told reporters the charter would be submitted for
royal endorsement this month.
The
junta has begun an overhaul of the electoral system and leader General Prayuth
Chan-ocha has said elections could take place by late 2015.
The
junta has all but silenced dissent by detaining hundreds of activists,
academics, journalists and politicians, many at undisclosed locations, before
releasing them on condition they do not criticize the regime.
The
small anti-coup protests seen immediately after the coup have fizzled out in
recent weeks.
A rally
on Friday outside the U.S. embassy in Bangkok to show support for Washington’s
decision to downgrade ties with Thailand attracted a dozen people, a Reuters
reporter said.
Some
were taken to police stations for questioning while others were simply asked by
troops to produce identity papers.
Under
martial law, public gatherings of more than five people are banned.
In the
first conviction related to anti-coup activity, a Bangkok court sentenced a
protester on Thursday to a one-month suspended jail term and a $190 fine for
violating the law.
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