Thanathorn insists military be kept out of politics for good

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit today (Mar.11) insisted that the military be ultimately kept out of politics for the sake of democratic rule.

Assisting in the Move Forward electoral campaign in Chaiyaphum, Thanathorn told a cheering crowd in the northeastern province that the progressive party has found it ultimately necessary to reform the military and keep them from staging any more coup whilst the junta-designed constitution of 2017 is yet subject to further amendment to render truly democratic rule.

“We need to take concrete steps to see to it that the military will be practically kept from undermining democratic rule by way of a coup,” said Thanathorn, leader of the court-dissolved Future Forward which has been practically resurrected as the Move Forward.

The Progressive Movement leader apparently referred to the 2014 coup staged by army chief-turned-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha only to cause a setback to democratic development for nearly a decade.

The Move Forward which is sending party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as partisan contender for prime minister has been urging constituents to help deny the ruling Sam Por any more power after the nationwide election.

That refers to a trio of former army chiefs, namely Deputy Prime Minister/Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and Prayut. Both Prawit and Prayut are contesting the upcoming general election as sole partisan candidate for prime minister under the Palang Pracharath and Ruam Thai Sang Chart banners respectively.

For starters, Thanathorn said, the Move Forward has been pushing for abolition to the compulsory military drafting which forces young males to tend to menial services for army generals, navy admirals and air force marshals instead of making earnings to support their families.

The Move Forward has put forward a concerted move for the establishing of local autonomy nationwide to the extent that local villagers be practically free from a central government, govern themselves, take care of natural resources available in their neighbourhoods and promote indigenous products made out of their own wisdom and skills such as moonshine and craft beer, he said.

CAPTION:

Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit helping Move Forward Party’s campaign in Chaiyaphum today, March 11, 2023. Photos INN News

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