Thailand’s military junta claimed yesterday that an interim government would be set up by September.

Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha had previously said it could be over a year before new elections were held, claiming that peace and reform had to be achieved first.

But yesterday he said that a temporary constitution would be drafted and an interim government installed within three months.

“A government will likely be set up in August or early September,” Gen Prayuth told a meeting of civil servants.

“When we have a government, we will move forward.

“Then the reform council can begin.”

A reform council tasked with instituting political reforms in the country would include rivals from Thailand’s long-running political conflict, he said.

But any council formed would itself be a direct rejection of the country’s democratic process, which has seen the regular election of administrations led by the Shinawatra family’s Pheu Thai Party or its predecessors.

The army seized power on May 22 and Gen Prayuth has justified the coup as necessary to restore order after half a year of anti-government protests that left at least 28 people dead.

But since taking power, the army appears to be carrying on the fight of the anti-government protesters by mapping out a similar agenda to redraft the constitution and force political change before elections.

It has also gone after politicians from the grass-roots Red Shirt movement that had vowed to take action if there was a coup.