General Chalermchai Sutthisart, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, said that he did not think such a remark would affect the ongoing efforts to achieve national reconciliation.

Chalermchai said his duty as a member of the government’s reconciliation building committee was to gather suggestions from the public as to how reconciliation could be achieved.

He was asked to comment on a remark by Suthep, chairman of the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation, who said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should be allowed to complete the reform work before a new election is held.

Suthep reportedly said Thailand is not ready for an election any time soon and threatened to hold a street protest if an election is called “too early”.

“That’s only Suthep’s opinion. I have the duty of collecting suggestions about reconciliation,” the Army chief said.