BANGKOK, Nov 24 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha on Monday denied rumours of a coup to end political tensions in the kingdom as pressure rose on the former junta leader to step down.
Prayuth, who is also Minister of Defence, said he did not want the anti-government and royalist protests to turn violent.
“I am the prime minister and I do not want Thais to kill each other again. I do not want any side to use violence again, especially during COVID-19.
“We have enough problems in dealing with the economic (challenges),” he told the media after the weekly cabinet meeting at Government House on Monday.
He was asked to comment on possible confrontations between the anti-government and royalist group that could lead to a military coup.
Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) shrank at less than the expected 6.4 per cent in the third quarter, recovering from a fall of 12.1 per cent in the second quarter — the sharpest fall in more than two decades.
The Bank of Thailand projected it would approximately two years for overall economic activities to return to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level.
Political uncertainties have risen in Thailand since the mid-July demand for political change, including for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha to step down, the dissolution of Parliament, the rewriting of the Constitution and bringing reform to the monarchy.
Tensions grew as the Royalist group held counter-protests in recent weeks.
The protest outside Parliament last Tuesday turned violent when riot police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters in which 55 people were hurt, including six with gunshots wounds.
The anti-government protesters would stage another protest at the Crown Property Bureau in Bangkok on Wednesday. One of the student leaders said, “there will be a big surprise” in the upcoming protest.
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