The controversy over alleged lese majeste remarks by certain red-shirt leaders is snowballing, with charges and counter-charges, the government's efforts to strengthen election campaign rules and top Pheu Thai figures under pressure to make their stand clear on the monarchy.
Police have been tasked to prevent campaign violence and the Election Commission is expected to enforce campaign rules, including a ban on trying to attract swaying votes by smearing the monarchy, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
"I will soon consult with the EC in regard to the campaign rules enforced on every party," he said, voicing concern for rally speeches touching on the monarchy.
Abhisit said offensive remarks were made by politicians and those in the mass movement backing a certain party as well. The EC should widen its scope of campaign monitoring to cover activities of campaign supporters, he added.
He did not mention any names although many understood his remarks as referring to the Pheu Thai Party and its red-shirt supporters. The prime minister himself stands to be criticised for capitalising on a situation that began earlier this month when some red-shirt leaders mentioned royal troops during their criticism of the military, prompting Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha to hit back with fierce remarks.
After Prayuth called on every Thai to go to the polls to determine the country's political course, Thaksin Shinawatra tweeted from his exile that all parties should stop involving the monarchy in politics. News reports over the weekend also said that senior Pheu Thai member Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was facing pressure to distance himself from the red-shirt movement by leaving the Pheu Thai Party. The opposition camp was said yesterday to be trying to convince Chavalit to stay on.
National police chief Wichean Potephosree said he will tomorrow seek Cabinet approval to extend the enforcement of the Internal Security Act in Bangkok for a month ending May 24.
The ISA enforcement is deemed necessary to rein in street protests in the lead up to the campaigning, he said. The security measures would be revoked following the House dissolution as protest activities are expected to revert to campaigning mode, he added.
The national police chief said police stood ready to foil any attempts to instigate campaign violence.
Two political activists submitted a petition yesterday calling for the Department of Special Investigation(DSI) to take every legal course of action in order to punish the red shirts for making remarks deemed offensive to the monarchy.
The two, Monchai Rabruenthaweesuk and Mahatjak Sophee, cited the rally speeches made last Sunday as evidence. They also said they would next petition public prosecutors to try the red shirts.
The DSI is investigating alleged lese majeste involving 18 red-shirt leaders, including Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan.
Today DSI investigators are scheduled to convene a meeting to prepare a new batch of indictments against the 18.
The DSI will also ask the Office of the Attorney General to petition for the judicial review to revoke bail for Jatuporn and another nine red shirts facing terrorism charges in connection with last year's riots.
Seeking to bounce back from the latest lese majeste controversy, Jatuporn yesterday filed a police complaint at Samranrat police station accusing Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha of libel.
Seen as a counter legal move, Jatuporn said Prayuth had tarnished his reputation by targeting him for police investigation on lese majeste.
Last week the Army, acting under Prayuth's instruction, lodged a formal complaint at Samranrat police station charging Jatuporn and another two red-shirt leaders of offending the monarchy in last Sunday's rally speeches.
About 1,000 red shirts showed up to lend Jatuporn moral support while he gave his statement to police. He said he was a victim of a Prayuth-initiated smear campaign and that his remarks were not deemed offensive as had been alleged by Prayuth.
Samranrat police were busy keeping peace around their station as some 300 royalist protesters turned up in what they described as a show of strength and loyalty to oppose any attempts to offend the country's revered institution.
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