Core members of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) claim the army's show of force this week is clear evidence of preparations for a coup to block the general election.
At a press conference on Thursday, UDD leading member Natthawut Saikua claimed he had information from an army general still in active service that the public show of force by the military was a check on the army's preparedness for a coup.
Mr Natthawut was referring to gatherings by soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division on Tuesday and of the 2nd Infantry Division today, both part of the 1st Army Region which includes Bangkok.
He believed a coup was planned to prevent a general election because the results of recent opinion polls showed that the opposition Puea Thai Party would win government.
It was noticeable that the units involved in the show of force were close to a top army officer currently in power, Mr Natthawut said, but would not name him.
He said the demonstrations showed what units would be involved.
"This coincides with the current political situation, beginning with the move to withdraw bail for red-shirt leaders before a House dissolution, and then a coup," Mr Natthawut said.
Puea Thai list MP and UDD co-leader Jatuporn Prompan said the units in the shows of force took part in the military crackdown on anti-government protesters on April 10 and May 19 last year.
"I want to ask Gen Dapong Rattanasuwan, the army chief-of-staff, if it is true that he called a meeting of the commanders of the 1st, 2nd and 9th Infantry Divisions at the house yesterday [April 20] and what orders he gave them," Mr Jatuporn said.
Maj-Gen Pisit Sithisarn, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, said soldiers from 12 battalions of the 2nd Infantry Division, the "Tigers of the East", staged an exercise to show their preparedness for combat this morning.
He said the exercise was part of the 1st Army's plan to ensure that troops can be assembled in three hours for combat and border defence operations.
The exercise was seen as another show of military support for Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army commander-in-chief, who has shown staunch opposition to any act deemed offensive to the monarchy.
Maj-Gen Pisit said all soldiers are duty-bound to protect the monarchy.
Source: Bangkok Post
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