The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) plans to scale down the role of its peace-keeping force after the regime is expected to ease long-held restrictions on political activities some time this month.
Chalermchai: No disruptions likely
The move is seen as a bid to shield criticism that the force will favour or intimidate any particular political parties ahead of the general election tentatively set for Feb 24.
Outgoing army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad, in his capacity as the NCPO secretary-general, yesterday said the Peace and Order Maintaining Force will adjust its role as the regime plans to partially lift the ban on political parties engaging in activities this month, though election campaigning will still not be allowed.
The 1st Army commander is in charge of the Peace and Order Maintaining Force. The force also has branches based in four army regional commands.
Presently, the Peace and Order Maintaining Force's tasks include monitoring targets which could pose a threat to national security, monitoring the media, radio stations and social media, setting up checkpoints to deter illegal activity, and enforcing laws to control demonstrations.
Gen Chalermchai said he had no concerns about disturbances after the easing of the politican ban occurs.
Legal measures are already in place to regulate social media, and the main task of the peace and order maintaining force is to deal with influential figures and the handling of weapons and illegal firearms, Gen Chalermchai said.
He believed that moving forward, political parties will concentrate on preparing for the election.
"After the political restrictions are eased, there is no need to be too strict [in keeping peace and order] ... In normal circumstances, police play a leading role in maintaining order, except when the peace-keeping force is needed to handle specific tasks," he said.
Asked about the peace-keeping force's role when election campaigns are permitted, Gen Chalermchai said that he wanted to limit the role of soldiers because they could be perceived to intimidate parties.
Gen Chalermchai retires at the end of this month and will be replaced by Gen Apirat Kongsompong who has been promoted from assistant army chief to lead the army.
Gen Apirat will also become the NCPO's new secretary-general.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday said that 70 days should be enough for election campaigning. He said that in the 2011 election which saw Yingluck Shinawatra become prime minister, she had only 49 days to campaign.
Responding to Gen Prawit's comment, the Pheu Thai Party's acting deputy spokesman, Anusorn Iamsa-ard said that the party had no complaint about the 70-day election period as suggested by Gen Prawit, but the government must not prevent parties from communicating with people, particularly on social media.
Mr Anusorn also said it was wrong to compare the current situation to previous elections because the country has been under the control of the NCPO over the past four years and politicians have not been allowed to meet with the people and listen to their needs and concerns.
The regime is unlikely to totally lift the political activities ban until a royal decree setting the election date is passed, probably early next year.
Politicians, including those in the Pheu Thai Party, have called on the government to lift the ban entirely.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-gnam previously said the ban would be eased when the organic law on election of MPs is royally endorsed and published in the Royal Gazette.
The law will take effect 90 days after its publication. The constitution requires an election to be held within 150 days of that date.
The publication of the organic law on MP elections is expected the middle of this month, which will bring the 90-day period to the middle of December.
The Election Commission has said previously that a royal decree declaring the poll date would be issued in January of next year for the Feb 24 election.
