Thailand’s Chief of Defence Forces Pornpipat Benyasri has defended the army chief, who said he would not rule out another military coup, saying this would only be proposed as a final option to deal with political unrest. General Pornpipat said army commander-in-chief Apirat Kongsompong may have made such comments based on experience.

“That [a coup] is a final plan to deal with [unstable] situations,” the defence forces chief said, referring to General Apirat’s comments.

Thailand’s new army chief on Wednesday did not rule out another military intervention if there was political conflict after the return of civilian rule in a general election next year.

When asked by a reporter if he was prepared to launch another coup, General Apirat Kongsompong said: “If politics does not create conflict like in the past, there is no need for us to intervene.”

Thailand has been under military rule since a May 2014 coup which the army and Bangkok elites said was necessary to restore order after months of pro and anti-government protests.

The Thai junta retains unchecked power with total impunity for human rights violations. Over the past four years, authorities have routinely enforced censorship and blocked public discussions about human rights and democracy. The regime has prosecuted hundreds of activists and dissidents on serious criminal charges such as sedition and computer-related crimes.

Public gatherings of more than five people are prohibited. The authorities have summoned thousands of people and pressured them to stop criticizing the junta. The military arbitrarily arrests and detains people suspected of opposing the junta, holding them for up to seven days without access to lawyers or safeguards against mistreatment.

Thailand’s unrest and rights violations have been caused by an overbearing junta, as the military establishment attempts to strangle Thai citizens into submission. Most often people, who favour military rule, fail to mention that the ruling generals are the ones worsening the political conflict.