The democratic opposition in Myanmar was cautious in appraising the military coup in Thailand this week.A spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD), Myint Thein, said that despite feeling “sad when we heard there had been a coup in a democratic country,” the NLD believes that the Thai army will make a quick transition to civilian rule as promised.
Min Ko Naing, a prominent former student leader in Rangoon, cautioned that “it is important to see if this current political move in Thailand can guarantee the interests of the Thai people.” He hoped that “it should not be a backward move for democracy.”
Cin Sian Thang, a Zomi ethnic leader and member of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament gave a mixed view of the coup: “The seizing of state power has never been good, but in the case of Thailand, it appears that the move aims to be for the benefit of the people. Now that the Thai people are supporting the coup, it shows the move was necessary.” A poll by a Thai university released on Thursday showed that 84% of Thais supported the coup led by Thai Army General Sonthi Bunyaglarin.
The government of Myanmar has made no official comment on their neighbor’s coup. General Sonthi met with Senior General Than Shwe in Myanmar a week before the coup.
Irrawaddy: Mixed reaction to Thai coup in Burma – 20 Sept
