Thailand's acting foreign minister said Thursday that last May's military coup was undertaken as a "last resort" to avoid bloodshed, while he sought understanding and support from Japan and other countries that have frowned on the army's seizure of power from a democratically elected government.
Sihasak Puangketkaew, permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry, told Kyodo News that without military intervention, the political and security situation in the kingdom was likely to become more chaotic and unstable.
"That's why we had what happened on May 22," he said.