Soldiers have been ordered to keep a close eye on any efforts to mobilise people to gather in support of Yingluck Shinawatra at the Supreme Court on August 25.
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Soldiers to watch for court 'mobilisers'
Aekarach Sattaburuth
Wassana Nanuam
Soldiers have been ordered to keep a close eye on local politicians, political canvassers and any potential efforts to mobilise people to gather at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Aug 25, when the court will hand down a ruling in the rice-pledging case against former premier Yingluck Shinawatra.
The government claims the rice-pledging programme cost the state over 500 billion baht in losses.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned local administrative organisations (LAOs) and local politicians once again against sponsoring transport of supporters to the Supreme Court next week, saying they risk facing charges of misspending their budgets.
Gen Prayut said yesterday that any LAOs that used state funds to ferry people to the court would run afoul of the law and have to demonstrate they had not misused their budgets.
The premier insisted he had never barred anyone from showing up to give support to Ms Yingluck at the court, but said any attempts by a third party to organise the transport of supporters was illegal.
"To give moral support is normal, I don't mind. But it should be done appropriately, not through mobilising a gathering," said Gen Prayut.
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said he had instructed provincial governors, district chiefs and LAO executives across the country that budgetary spending must conform with the law.
No irregularities have been detected so far, he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, meanwhile, ordered that security for the judges hearing the rice-pledging case be ensured.
Gen Prawit said police will be in charge of security at the court, while soldiers will not be deployed at the site. He urged Ms Yingluck's supporters to stay at home, though he would not order officials to block people from coming to the court.
Army commander-in-chief Chalermchai Sitthisad yesterday held a meeting with personnel from the regime's peacekeeping force, army commands in each region, and the Internal Security Operations Command to assess the security situation prior to the ruling.
According to a source at the meeting, it was assessed that 1,000-2,000 people would gather at the court on Aug 25 to give moral support to Ms Yingluck. Most of them are expected to come from Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Ayutthaya provinces.
Amnuay Khlangpha, a former Lop Buri MP from Pheu Thai, said he did not believe the LAOs would use their budgets to ferry people to the court. The spending must be in line with the law and come under observation by the Office of the Attorney General, he said.
He said he was aware that people would go to the court themselves by public transport, reiterating that people are willing to go to the court as they love and sympathise with Ms Yingluck and only want to give her encouragement. He noted that at least 150 former Pheu Thai Party MPs are expected to show up at the court for the ruling.
