Red-shirt leader questions Army explanation as soldiers mobilise in Lamphun
Thida Thavornseth, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said Thursday that she suspected that there was a link between an ongoing military drill in Lamphun and the verdict that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will receive on August 25.
However, the Army stated that the military presence was routine.
Hundreds of soldiers patrolling the streets in Lamphun caused people to panic yesterday, although the Army claimed that it was simply a drill for new soldiers before sending them to the deep South.
“Why will the drills run until August 25 only? Why will the military choose to stage a drill in a very small province like Lamphun?” Thida asked.
She said a psychological consequence was that the drills featuring armed soldiers would instil fear in the hearts of people who wished to express moral support to Yingluck.
“I consider the drill a form of intimidation,” she said.
Some red-shirt supporters have already been asked by soldiers to sign forms saying that they would definitely not show up at the court to support Yingluck on her judgement day, she said.
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons holding Political Positions is scheduled to deliver a ruling in the case in which Yingluck is accused of negligence in her government’s implementation of the rice-pledging scheme, which caused massive damage to the country, next Friday.