Anti-military tag harms PP poll hopes

War creates heroes.

- Veera Prateepchaikul

Rakchanok Srinork, 31, an activist-turned party-list election candidate for the People's Party, campaigns for the election.

(REUTERS/CHALINEE THIRASUPA)

It also fuels a strong sense of patriotism.Hence, in the eyes of most Thais, the Thai military - especially Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, former commander of the 2nd Army Region - have become heroes for risking their lives, or for the lives lost and injuries sustained, during the two rounds of bloody armed conflict with Cambodian forces in July and December.

During these two limited wars and in their immediate aftermath, nationalist sentiment has run high among the public and has been easily manipulated for political purposes. It therefore came as no surprise that opponents of the People's Party seized the opportunity to portray the party as anti-military or unpatriotic, citing allegedly insulting remarks made by Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of the now-defunct Move Forward Party - the predecessor of the People's Party - during the last election campaign.

Remarks such as "Why do we need the military?" and "If there is a war, the Thai military will be defeated anyway!" have repeatedly been cited by critics to reinforce the image of the People's Party as anti-military.

On top of that, royalists have also portrayed the party as anti-monarchy because of its persistent campaign to amend the lèse-majesté law, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code. Some party members, such as Rakchanok Srinork, better known as "Ice", have been charged under Section 112 in the Criminal Court.