Thai coup general runs in election

Army man who overthrew former PM may end up in a coalition with the man he kicked out in the coup.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the Thai military man who overthrew former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is one of the candidates running in the country’s general election on Sunday.

This is seen by some as evidence of the deep link between politics and the Thai army, which has staged or attempted 18 coups over the years.

And if General Sonthi’s party is able to win seats in parliament, he may end up having to work in a coalition with the political allies of the man he kicked out in the coup, including Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay reports from Bangkok.

Source: Al Jazeera