Public fear as a weapon to counter Pitak Siam

The Pheu Thai-led government has been using these agencies – the National Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council and the Special Branch Police – as tools to stir up public sentiment against the Pitak Siam led by a retired general, General Boonlert Kaewprasit.

 

 Pitak Siam plans a mass rally at the Royal Plaza on Saturday. The closer the rally is drawing, the more the government is stepping up to create public fear towards the demonstrators by using the intelligence agencies as tools.

 

The government seems to have an advantage in the game of stirring up this anti-demonstrator sentiment because it has the power and various tools. It should be noted that Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who supervises the NIA, NSC, and the Royal Thai Police, has been assigned to deal with the Pitak Siam rally.

 

So it was not surprising to see intelligence operations used to build up speculation and sentiment against the Pitak Siam.

 

For example, the government has cited intelligence reports to allege that the government’s opponents were planning to hire people to disguise themselves as red shirts to stage violence and create a situation.

 

The allegation has not been verified yet, but those who raised or repeated it included a deputy prime minister and hard-line Cabinet members, who would not compromise with the opponents. They include Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee and Deputy Commerce Minister Natthawut Saikua.

 

Their allegation was also affirmed by NSC secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr. Paradorn claimed that intelligence agencies had learned that some 4,000 to 5,000 people would be hired to pretend to be red shirts to create disturbances. 

 

As part of its efforts to build up public fear, the government has announced nine Cabinet members were ordered to be on standby to conduct a mini Cabinet meeting in case of emergency so the government could declare the state of emergency.

 

“Actually, this is a routine operation and it is nothing new. Any government would have to do this to deal with similar situations. For example, the previous government held a mini Cabinet meeting at the Eleventh Infantry Regiment. The Somchai government also held a mini Cabinet meeting at the VIP lounge at the Don Mueang airport when the Government House was seized,” a security source said.