VOA慢速英語:泰國軍事統(tǒng)治者在政變后想一改之前的強硬

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Earlier this week, the head of Thailand’s army gaveorders to some of the country’s top diplomats. GeneralPrayuth Chan-ocha told them to seek internationalunderstanding for the military’s ouster of thegovernment. The general organized the militaryoverthrow, or coup, last month. He now holds alladministrative and legislative power in Thailand.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha met on Wednesday with23 of Thailand’s ambassadors and general consulsworking in 21 countries. The general told the diplomatsthat they have a duty to create internationalunderstanding about the coup last month. Thai militaryand foreign ministry officials reported his comments.

Thailand’s military rulers have set up a group called theNational Council for Peace and Order to govern thecountry. The military has detained several hundred people, includingpoliticians, activists and members of the media. Many have been releasedafter being held for a week or two in military camps. Some of those targetedhave disobeyed orders to surrender. Among them are Thais living overseas.

As the general met with diplomats, a number of Thai military commanderswere on their way to China. They were to meet with top-level Chinese armyofficials. The two countries have held joint exercises in the past.

Protesters scuffle with soldiers during a rally at Victory Monument in Bangkok May 28, 2014.

Thailand’s military rulers say China has been supportive of the coup. ButWestern nations, including the United States, have been critical of thegovernment’s ouster. The U.S. military suspended training operations withThailand’s forces in answer to the coup.

Pavin Chachavalpongpun is an associate professor with Kyoto University inJapan. He describes relations between Thailand and China after the coup as a win-win situation. He notes the physical closeness of the two countries andtheir growing economic ties.

“The pressure from Western countries, the United States and Australia, couldhave played a role in pushing Thailand a little bit closer to China and knowingthat there would be a lot of interest in doing so anyway.”

China is already Thailand’s biggest trading partner. Trade between thecountries is expected to reach $100 billion next year.

General Prayuth has expressed a need to return “happiness” to the Thaipeople after a long period of political unrest. Another Thai military officialspoke to VOA after the coup. He said a goal of the ouster of the civiliancaretaker government is to permanently end the political influence of formerPrime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

He was overthrown when the military ousted the government in 2005. But theparty he supported won the elections in 2011, and his sister, YingluckShinawatra, later became prime minister.