The Army Chief has dismissed Phue Thai MP and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan’s allegations that the army was involved in the deaths of red shirts in April and May.

On 15 Dec, before departing for Vietnam on an official trip, Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters at Suvarnabhumi Airport that he was concerned about the security situation during the New Year festivities, but the authorities had been preparing security plans to ensure the public’s safety under the Internal Security Act which would replace the Emergency Decree, if the latter was to be lifted.

He asked all parties to cooperate, abide by the law, and keep a close watch to prevent bad people from committing acts of violence.  The Prime Minister has discussed the contingency plans with the Defence Minister as Director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation.  And the government can bring back the Emergency Decree any time, if violent incidents occur, the army chief said.

He dismissed Jatuporn’s allegations that the army was involved in killing red shirts, saying that he paid no attention to it and had never believed anything Jatuporn said.  Let the justice process deal with the issue of the deaths of red shirts, and the army will not explain anything.