Coup fears ease as Thai military ‘accept’ election outcome

THAILAND’S powerful military will respect a landslide election win by allies of Thaksin Shinawatra, whom it toppled five years ago, according to the defence minister, easing fears of another coup.

Shinawatra’s sister Yingluck Shinawatra, a 44-year-old political novice now set to become the kingdom’s first female prime minister, announced a coalition deal with four smaller parties to bolster her hold on power.

The election and its aftermath is a major test of Thailand’s ability to emerge from a long political crisis triggered by Shinawatra’s 2006 overthrow that last year saw the country’s worst civil violence in decades.

Outgoing defence minister and retired general Prawit Wongsuwon said the army accepted the election outcome.

“I have talked to military leaders. We will allow politicians to work it out. The military will not get involved,” he said. “The people have spoken clearly, so the military cannot do anything. We accept it.”

Shinawatra has vowed not to seek revenge over a deadly military crackdown on his Red Shirt supporters in Bangkok last year that claimed the lives of more than 90 people and left major downtown buildings in flames.

However, in a sign of the difficult balancing act he faces, Red Shirt leaders urged their political allies to establish the facts behind the army operation, which saw soldiers firing live ammunition storm the Red Shirt’s rally camp.

“During the election campaign, political parties have to present their policies to people, but once they become the government, it’s the government’s job to find the truth,” said a Red Shirt leader, Nattawut Saikuar.

The Puea Thai Party — masterminded by Shinawatra from his self-imposed exile in Dubai — won 265 seats of 500 in the lower house.

That was well ahead of the 159 secured by out-going prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s establishment-backed Democrats, who conceded defeat after two-and-a-half years in power. Vejjajiva has also resigned as party leader.

However, Puea Thai was quick to reach out to potential partners, partly to protect against possible future defections or the disqualification of some of its winning candidates in Sunday’s vote.

Together the five coalition partners hold 299 of the 500 seats.

The victory has reshaped a fractured political landscape, but the party must tread carefully if it wants to avoid alienating other key players like the military.

Shinawatra insists he had no plan to return to office himself, and said that setting foot back in Thailand was not a priority.

“I’ve been with the party too long, and I really want to retire,” Shinawatra told reporters in Dubai where he lives to avoid a jail term for corruption.

“Going back home is not a major concern. It is not a priority.”