| Army soldiers in Sakon Nakorn have been allegedly ordered to vote for the Democrat Party's candidates, running for MPs in Jul 3's election. Nattawud Saikua, a Red Shirt leader-turned-Puea Thai party-listed candidate, said he had been informed by soldiers attached to the Krit Srivara barracks in the northeastern province they and their colleagues had been instructed by their superior officers to only vote for the Democrats.
The unidentified soldiers had also been told to cast their votes in advance, scheduled for Jun 26, according to Mr Nattawud. He called on army chief Gen Prayudh Chand-ocha, in general, and Krit Srivara barracks commander Maj Gen Sithi Chansomboon, in particular, to clarify on the alleged interference in their individual subordinates' right to vote.
'Those soldiers were so embarrassed at such an order they leaked it out. Some were even known to have quietly supported Red Shirt movement. The (alleged) orders to vote for the Democrats underscored the failures on the part of the military higher-ups to stay politically neutral,' he said.
Meanwhile, Gen Prayudh categorically dismissed the allegations and said the military have remained ‘politically impartial.’ The army chief said the Sakon Nakorn soldiers had only been told to see for themselves if their names have been put on the lists of legitimate constituents to vote.
Gen Prayudh earlier commented the military will by no means interfere in the nationwide contests for MPs and assured no more government will be literally set up inside any barracks.
The Democrat-led coalition government headed by caretaker prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was reportedly set up inside the compound of the First Infantry Regiment on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road a few years ago.
Besides, Mr Nattawud charged the Internal Security Operations Command had instructed its officials attached to varied units throughout the country's central region to compile lists of local people believed to be currently supportive of the Puea Thai Party's electoral campaigns.
The lists of the alleged local canvassers, said to have been submitted on Thursday, contained none of any party other than the Puea Thai Party, he said.
He called on army chief-of-staff Gen Dapong Rattanasuwan, who is concurrently secretary general of the ISOC, to respond to the allegations.
The opposition party, staunchly loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, earlier alleged ISOC officials as well as other military men had quietly monitored movements of Puea Thai contenders and Red Shirt activists in constituencies of the northern and northeastern regions.
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