Thai army chief vows no more coups as fresh doubt cast on 2017 election pledge

They may have successfully seized power 12 times in the last eight decades but Thailand’s army chief has said military coups are officially a thing of the past.

The comments caused much merriment on social media given the military’s long track record of toppling elected governments - the latest a 2014 putsch that brought the current junta to power.

The military have promised to hold elections once a new constitution is in place, although the date for polls keeps slipping.

In an interview with Thai media outlets published on Monday, General Chalermchai Sitthisat was asked whether the military would intervene if civilian politicians disliked by the army brass were voted back in.

“I can confirm that there won’t be a coup. What would be a reason for having to have the coup? There won’t be a coup. We have already learned from what happened (in the past),” he said.