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Published on December 17, 2007

Ruengroj, retired supreme commander of the armed forces, said the military had been setting up checkpoints at every PPP campaign venue in Chiang Rai and alleged that it wanted to block voters from going to the party's rallies. The military also intimidated village heads and kamnan not to associate with the party.

"I witnessed the incident myself. I feel worried, but not because I fear the party will not win. I fear that the military is not letting the election go according to the democratic way,'' he said.

However, he dismissed speculation that there would be political turmoil and the military would stage a coup if the PPP won the election.

"It is just a rumour that was released with the intention of scaring the public so that they do not vote for the PPP,'' he said.

PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said the party would place advertisements in all newspaper this week to ask voters to give the party more than half of the total seats in Parliament so that it can form a stable government.

He expressed concern about the possibility of several parties forming a "buffet Cabinet" and setting off another vicious circle in Thai politics.

Surapong said the PPP would form a coalition government even if it won a majority. "Even if we win 241 seats, the party will join with other parties to form a stable government that can solve economic problems as promised,'' he said.

He did not rule out forming a government with former opposition parties.

PPP leader Samak Sundaravej is scheduled to talk about the problems of Bangkok traffic and at Suvarnabhumi Airport at the Emporium shopping mall on Thursday and address the party's largest rally at Sanam Luang the following day.