The Defense minister instructs armed forces to intensify border security. In the final days of the election campaign, he dispels rumors of a no-election situation, assuring that security agencies are ready to open military units for political parties to campaign if requested.

Today (Jan 22 ) 14:00 pm At The Veterans Welfare Organization under the Royal Patronage, Defense Minister General Natthaphol Nakpanich addressed the issue of opening military units to political parties for campaigning. He stated that he had emphasized neutrality and support for the election process during the last Defense Council meeting. However, requests from political parties or the Election Commission will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Regarding security along the borders and in the three southern border provinces, General Natthaphol said he has consistently emphasized security, not only before the election but especially as the election approaches, intensifying efforts. He acknowledged that the structure for resolving the problems in the three southern border provinces has the Prime Minister as the director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) as the chairman, with the Commander-in-Chief of the Army as the vice-chairman, down to the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Commander of the 4th Army Region, while the Minister of Defense is not part of this structure. "Our role is only to provide support, not to issue policies or give orders," said General Nattaphol.

Regarding the security of areas related to the election, he stated that border areas are the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense and the armed forces, while inland areas are the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior and the local administration. He added that the Prime Minister has already emphasized this point.

Concerning the provision of transportation for citizens from remote areas to polling stations, General Nattaphol said that due to the sensitive nature of this and the potential for violations of election laws, the army cannot initiate such services unless requested by the relevant areas or the Ministry of Interior.

Regarding the reported cases of soldiers being physically assaulted at polling stations during the election period, General Nattaphol said there were only two or three cases, and the army has already taken action according to procedure, including military discipline and criminal charges. He stressed the need to take this matter seriously, citing existing laws against torture and the numerous warnings issued. He pledged to ensure justice for those who were victimized. As for whether it's a political issue, he declined to comment, leaving it to the media to consider. He also declined to comment on the constitutional amendments being used by political parties during the campaign.

When asked about rumors that there would be no election, he did not directly answer. Regarding any specific reasons or factors, General Nattapol stated that there are currently many rumors circulating but urged the public to have confidence in government agencies, especially security agencies, particularly those under the Ministry of Defense's responsibility along the borders, to maintain peace and order. He emphasized the need to resolve the situation positively to create a conducive atmosphere for the election. He also requested cooperation in verifying information and presenting only factual information from the government, as he has been continuously attacked on social media, some of which is baseless. He mentioned that he had filed a lawsuit, but the owner of the page, a disabled person, had to withdraw the complaint because they claimed to be doing it for profit. He cautioned the public about the prevalence of fake news and distorted information on social media and urged them to be firm and listen to reason.

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Source of material: official media /online news