BANGKOK — Thailand's powerful army chief jumped into a heated election battle with a thinly veiled attack on the resurgent opposition led by a sister of fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The appearance of the commander-in-chief late Tuesday on national television urging people how to vote was a stark reminder of the Thai military's long history of intervening in politics, including a series of coups.
"If you allow a repeat of the same election pattern, then we will always get the same result," General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, dressed in military uniform, said in an interview aired on two army-run channels.
"I want you to use sound and reasonable judgement to make our country and our monarchy safe and have good people running our nation," he told voters, apparently endorsing the ruling Democrats, who came to power with army backing.
Parties linked to Thaksin have won the most seats in the past four elections, but the former telecoms tycoon was ousted in a 2006 coup and the courts reversed the results of the last two polls.
Thaksin's youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra is the main opposition candidate for prime minister and polls show her Puea Thai Party pulling ahead of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrats ahead of the July 3 vote.
The Thai military has a record of meddling in politics, with 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932, and analysts say history could repeat itself if the opposition wins the poll.
The army chief's remarks appear to reflect nervousness about the way the vote is heading, said a Bangkok-based diplomat who asked not to be named.
"There seems to be a certain nervousness among security officials, to say the least," he added.
Yingluck for her part appeared unfazed by the army chief's comments.
"In general the military can show its stance and its role I don't mind," she told reporters during election campaigning in northeast Thailand.
"I sincerely hope to meet him and achieve reconciliation and unity."
In an interview with AFP on June 1, she urged the army chief to keep his promise to stay out of politics, saying she was optimistic there would not be another coup if she wins the election.
"I hope not but we have to make sure everybody respects the people's decision," said the 43-year-old, 18 years junior to her controversial brother.
The 2006 coup ushered in a period of political instability and bloody unrest, including street clashes between armed troops and "Red Shirt" protesters last year that left 90 people dead and about 1,900 wounded.
Prayut, a staunch royalist, said the military would stay neutral in the election, but said anybody insulting the monarchy should be prosecuted.
"Based on security intelligence there are widespread violations against the institution," he said.
"Thailand exists today because of the monarchy. The king did not get involved in things outside of his duty. He has worked for more than 60 years. He should rest and be relieved to see the stability of the people," he said.
On the instructions of its commander-in-chief, the military in April filed a complaint against three Red Shirt leaders, including one lawmaker, for allegedly insulting the royals during rally speeches.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 83, the world's longest-reigning monarch and revered as a demi-god by many Thais, has been in hospital since September 2009.
The monarchy, which has no official political role, is an extremely sensitive subject in the kingdom, and rights groups have expressed fears over use of lese majeste laws to suppress freedom of expression.
There have been several high-profile arrests recently for allegedly insulting the royals, including a prominent Thai historian and a Thai-born American blogger.
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