Army denies backing Democrat

The Army has denied speculation linking Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to the televised speech by Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha urging for voters rally behind the monarchy and cast ballots for "good people".

"Suthep did not paid a visit to the Army headquarters and met with Prayuth on Tuesday as speculated," Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Wednesday.

Sansern said the Army chief made the speech in order to reaffirm the military's non-involvement in the face of the July 3 vote.

Suthep said he suspected a smear campaign by maliciously portraying the Democrats to seek the Army backing.

He said media professionals should have tried to verify the allegation about his 40-minute meeting with Prayuth before the televised speech.

As evidence, he released his scheduled appointments for Tuesday to confirm his whereabouts, leaving no time for any unscheduled meeting.

Pheu Thai candidate Yingluck Shinawatra said she had no objection to Prayuth's speech since her party too was against the politicising of the country's revered institution.

Yingluck said she was hopeful that voters would judge her party based on its policies instead of individuals. She was commenting on concern that certain members of the disbanded People Power Party were critical of the monarchy.

She said her meeting with Prayuth was likely to take place after the vote because she wanted to discuss how to bring about national reconciliation and solidarity.

In his speech aired via Army-control Channels 5 and 7, Prayuth said he was in full support of the general election as a way to overcome the political predicament.

He called on media outlets not to spread biased views designed to drive a wedge between the people and the armed forces in the lead-up to the July 3 vote.

Certain outlets, particularly those via satellite broadcast, were instrumental in raising divisive issues to agitate the people, he said in reference to programmes geared for red and yellow shirts.

He suggested for the Election Commission to look into the matter in order to rein in biased and smear reports designed to sway votes.

Commenting on the politically-linked violence in the past two years, he said the rule of law must be upheld in order to ensure justice. It was regretable for innocent people and security forces killed in the bloodshed, he said, arguning each incident should be resolved under due process and not by apportioning the blame.

He said he worried about the surge of offensive attacks on the monarchy. He singled out fugitives like Giles Ungpakorn and Jakrapob Penkair for their smear.

He urged campaigners to repeal the lese majeste charge to reconsider because the legal action would not be activated if there was no offence committed or suspected.

In conclusion, he called on voters to turn out in large numbers to effect a change for the better.

"I wish every voter would form objective decision on how safeguard the country and monarchy," he said, calling for good people be given the chance to administer the country.

Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Chumpol Silapa-archa expressed his trust in the military to remain politically neutral in the vote.