Time for soldiers to leave politics to election winners

Time for soldiers to leave politics to election winners

 The election has well and truly restored democracy. Now it is time for soldiers to leave politics behind and return to their barracks.

Just five years ago the army staged a military coup and played a prominent role in politics by throwing its support behind the Democrat Party-led government of outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, taming the red shirts and blocking any attempt to return to power by deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

All that ended on July 3, when the Democrats badly lost the contest and the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party enjoyed a landslide victory by sweeping 265 out of 500 seats in Parliament.

But the army - from the top to low-ranking officers - needs time for adjustment to its new role as a political watcher while voluntarily confining itself to the military camps. That also goes for army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who fully backed the Democrat Party, for which the military was rewarded with an ample budget to "modernise" the army. He cannot expect any similar privilege from a new government led by Yingluck Shinawatra.

But looking on the bright side, soldiers need not be worried about any violence in the aftermath of the election. Even Gen Prayuth has told his subordinates: "This is the best time [I've had] since becoming army leader, because I'm not preoccupied with meeting after meeting, I don't have to stay alert and I can now leave behind all worries about possible protests or violence."

Last Tuesday, he told some 3,000 soldiers at the Second Infantry Division in Prachin Buri that "with the political situation returning to normal, I am coming back to closely take care of the army, to protect the monarchy, sovereignty and people, and at the same time to boost morale and welfare of you all. That's what I've had to overlook for some time."

The message he gave the soldiers in Prachin Buri (and other camps which he will visit) is that the army has to be modernised - from military equipment to new technologies and uniforms - and he also emphasises the dignity and unity of the army. At the same time the army is, and will be, on the same side as the people. "I urge unity for soldiers. Soldiers must not be their own enemy," he said in Prachin Buri.

The main mission for the army is to protect the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, and stamp out insurgency in the far South which has dragged on for more than seven years. It also has to end "internal politics in the army" as it has been divided since the Sept 19, 2006 power play, when the centre of power was with the generals under the "Burapha Phayak" (Tigers of the East) faction which includes Gen Prayuth, his predecessor Gen Anupong Paojinda and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. Division in the army could be seen from the election, when soldiers in many units in Bangkok and other provinces still voted for Pheu Thai - despite the clear stance of the top brass as to which party they favoured.

It would be unfair to say that those voting against the Democrats were all supporting Thaksin by casting their ballots for Pheu Thai. Many "watermelon soldiers" do not sympathise with the red shirt movement but they have been pushed aside from power for years, due to unfair promotions within the army.

One good thing for the army and Gen Prayuth in particular is a promise from Ms Yingluck and Thaksin that there will be "no revenge". Which means there should be no need to search for a general to become the new army leader. Frankly speaking, there is no one around now who could lead the army like Gen Prayuth, given his past and present record as a Queen's Guard, a soldier with plenty of experience at the border and overseas. There can be no doubt about his loyalty to the monarchy and he has made many sacrifices for the army and country under his "Country First" motto.

His only weakness is his "emotional meter" which flares up every time he is upset by news stories and headlines in the media. Another thing is that the army leader sometimes pays too much attention to minor things instead of putting his energy and focus on the big picture of the army, such as: in which policy direction should the army be going? If Gen Prayuth cannot control his emotional outbursts against the media, he could easily become a target of attacks by those in Pheu Thai and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, where many are publicly known for their anti-soldier and anti-Prayuth sentiment. The red shirts know that Pheu Thai is not a party Gen Prayuth and other military leaders would have chosen to run the country. But the army has no choice but to respect the people's will as shown in the poll results.

The army needs time for adjustment by staying away from politics. They knew from 2006 that the military coup was not a magic pill to solve everything. At the same time people must change their mindset too, by not calling for soldiers to come out of the barracks every time the country has political problems. Politicians have to stop interfering in the affairs of the military forces.

Nobody can set a better example than Gen Prayuth in showing the public that soldiers in the post-Democrat government have the patience to allow all the political mechanisms available to resolve the political problems - instead of having politicians always running to the armed forces for assistance and support.

Only Gen Prayuth can lead his men back to the barracks and let politicians solve their own political problems. In the eyes of the public, that would certainly restore their faith in - and respect for - the military establishment.