It would be an understatement to say the Thai military has further entrenched its status over the past few weeks as a state within a state as a result of Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda's controversial but crucial role in helping the Democrats form the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration.

In return, those generals got one of their own former commanders, by the name of Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, as Defence Minister. A few days prior to the cabinet appointment last week, a Defence Ministry spokeman made it clear by telling the media they did not want an outsider as Defence minister.

So they got what they wanted, and Prawit, according to the current Navy Commander, "has good relations with Anupong". Also, a "strange coincidence" occurred very soon after when Gen Prawit's younger brother, Pol Gen Phatcharawat Wongsuwan, was reinstated as Police chief. Phatcharawat, by the way, has been accused by the National Human Rights Commission of using excessive force to quell the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters in front of parliament on October 7. This led to two deaths and hundreds being injured, when he was in charge.

But the Army is trying to stage a comeback through a soft, hidden and silent coup, in an even bigger way and play a dual role again. It was reported last week that the Army plans "to visit" red-shirt groups in the Northeast "as part of a mission to ease social disunity".

The report even quoted Anupong as saying "Basically I love Isaan people".

Now, it's well-known red-shirt pro-Thaksin Shinawatra villagers and voters have been upset with the military since they staged a coup d'etat in September 2006 which ousted Thaksin. What took place after the coup was a blitz of pro-military and facile national unity propaganda launched by a military junta, the Council for National Security.

It failed as voters in the areas persistently voted for whoever they saw as representing Thaksin and so the People Power Party won the election last December.

Now the Army is back at it again, and all this just before snap by-elections on January 11 in many areas. Thai Rath newspapers went into more detail last Friday when stating that 2,000 troops "would be dispatched" to all areas in the North and Northeast where new polls will be held.

When will the Army learn that what these people need is not exactly "love" as Gen Anupong have stated, but "respect" - respect for their political right and freedom to make political choices - no matter what others think.

By engineering and making the Abhisit administration a reality through coercing a defection of former pro-Thaksin aide Newin Chidchob, red-shirt voters felt doubly cheated and robbed of their government - no matter how dubious then PM Somchai Wongsawat and his predecessor Samak Sundaravej were.

So when will the Army learn it's none of their business to help form a government or send soldiers to tell rural and poor villagers what kind of political outlook they should have (not to mention whom they should vote for)?

Did it not occur to these generals that they too must be top among the list of those who urgently need proper re-education about politics, and the proper role of the military in a democracy?

Perhaps not - judging from their behaviour which projects Anupong as being more than just Army chief but also a kingmaker, chief propagandist and more.

Some said we should be thankful that the military didn't stage yet another coup after the PAD illegal seized the two Bangkok airports.

Nevertheless, Gen Anupong's role in opening his house to talk with key politicians on December 6 to discuss what sort of new coalition should look like is a soft, hidden and silent coup which in a way is worse than the visible and obvious traditional coup with tanks rolling down the streets of Bangkok. This is because soft, hidden and silent coup blur the line between what is democratically acceptable and not, between what is illegitimate and not.

It may be too simplistic to say that PM Abhisit is simply a military puppet and lacking in his own agency. (Please note that the PAD is also very influential in the new administration with the appointment of one of the PAD fanatics, Kasit Piromya, who defended the PAD's takeover of the airports as "fun" as the new Foreign Minister).

Prawit's appointment and the military's dual role in political meddling is nonetheless a reminder that the military is gaining more clout and influence vis-a-vis elected politicians and the people. It shows they're not willing to give up their privileged and hugely rewarding status as a state within a state. This alone doesn't bode well for the future of Thai democracy.