2 powerful retired generals behind Suthep

Bangkok - His whistle-tooting crowds of supporters are dwindling. His threats against Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra veer from the bold to the bizarre.

But behind Thailand's fiery anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban are two powerful retired generals with palace connections, a deep rivalry with the Shinawatra family and an ability to influence Thailand's coup-prone armed forces.

The forces behind Suthep are led by a former defence minister, General Prawit Wongsuwan, and a former army chief, General Anupong Paochinda, towering figures in Thailand's military establishment, said two military sources with direct knowledge of the matter and a third with connections to Thai generals.

A glimpse into Suthep's connections sheds light on how he could prevail in a seemingly improbable bid to oust a leader who won a 2011 election by a landslide and impose rule by an unelected "People's Council" of appointed "good people", even as his street rallies start to flag.

Although retired, Gen Anupong, 64, and Gen Prawit, 67, still wield influence in a powerful and highly politicised military that has played a pivotal role in a country that has seen 18 successful or attempted coups in the past 81 years.

It is unclear how far that influence goes, or how decisive they could be.

But both have close ties to the army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha. And all three have a history of enmity with Ms Yingluck's billionaire brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom they helped oust in a 2006 coup.

The military sources said that if Suthep's protests lead to violence, the two could help sway the military to intervene or even to seize power on the pretext of national security, allowing Suthep to go ahead with his People's Council, though analysts say such a scenario appears unlikely in the immediate term.

Gen Prawit and Gen Anupong had expressed readiness to intervene if there was a security crisis, and if Suthep's plan for an interim government was constitutional, said the source with military connections.

Army leaders say they are neutral in the crisis. But General Thanasak Patimaprakorn, supreme commander of the armed forces, yesterday met Suthep and his allies, who have openly courted violence on Bangkok's streets in hopes of inducing a military coup or judicial intervention to bring down Ms Yingluck.

Suthep says the meeting shows he has the public backing of the military. But a statement from the supreme commander said the meeting was a "public forum" that included civic groups.

"Suthep is playing the game on the outside while Prawit tries to play the game on the inside," said a senior military official.

"Gen Prawit has been clear about his aspirations to become prime minister."

Gen Anupong and Gen Prawit were present at a Dec 1 meeting between Suthep and Ms Yingluck at a military camp, according to three aides of military officials who attended.

One military source said Gen Prayuth was being pulled in two directions, with Gen Anupong and Gen Prawit on one side, and a need on the other to restore the military's image after the 2010 clashes and ensure an untarnished retirement next year.