BANGKOK, June 18 — Thailand’s military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), on Wednesday told 22 military attaches from 18 countries that it hwas forced to take control of the national administration to stop prolonged problems including the death toll of the Thai people.
In a meeting at the Royal Thai Army headquarters, NCPO deputy spokesman Col Weerachon Sukhonthapatiphak insisted that the Peace and Order Council was working in the national interest and the now lifted curfew and the ongoing use of martial law was implemented within limits and was applied to facilitate specific solutions.
The Council was trying to introduce good developments in the country and when the situation returns to normal, he said, there would be a democratic election.
“I would like friendly nations to be patient and give time for the NCPO to solve problems,” he said. “Relations between foreign armed forces and the Thai armed forces remain unchanged. The stances of governments are political affairs.”
After the meeting, Col Weerachon said the NCPO would not retaliate against any country that opposed its policy but would try to create understanding, noting that it was normal for European countries to show concern regarding Peace and Order Council actions.
Present in today’s meeting were military attaches from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, England, the United States, Vietnam and South Korea. Military attaches of Cambodia, Laos, Spain and Kuwait were occupied with other matters and did not attend the meeting.
The deputy NCPO spokesman said that from now on the council would have weekly briefings with foreign military attaches.
