While Thailand is still being ruled by the coup-installed government, the newly appointed army chief has already laid the foundations for a siege of the country's future democracy.
Gen Apirat Kongsompong said on Wednesday that once the country returns to civilian rule following a general election in February next year, he will not rule out another military coup d'etat if there is further mayhem caused by political conflict as has happened in the past.
Even though his remark does not envisage a particular plan to plot, or not to plot, a coup, given that he was responding to a point-blank question posed by the media, it does reflect a misguided notion which has been repeatedly used as justification for military intervention in politics in the past.
