Army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad has brushed off complaints by the Future Forward Party that authorities are attempting to intimidate its members, saying the party must present evidence of such acts to officials.
He gave these remarks in response to a party statement released on Monday calling on authorities to stop harassing its members.
Gen Chalermchai, who is also the secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said no order has been given to officials to commit such acts.
If the party has evidence of intimidation, such as photos of the incidents, it can notify officials, who would seek ways to punish the offenders, the army chief said.
However, as a matter of national security, some intelligence units may want to know what someone is doing, but this is not a matter of intimidation, according to Gen Chalermchai.
"I clearly understand that the Future Forward Party has an opposing stance [to the regime]. But, if we use more dictatorial power, that will only increase its popularity and this is something we will not do," said Gen Chalermchai. "I confirm that intimidation does not yield any benefits."
He said authorities are careful about their actions as they understand the political ramifications.
"New political parties may have to seek dramatic ways to court sympathy regardless of whether what they say is true or false. They want to get the media's attention," said the army chief.
The Future Forward Party held a general assembly at Thammasat University's Rangsit campus on May 27, where it said more than 3,000 people, including 700 party founders, attended.
In its statement, the party claims many uniformed and plainclothed officials were found mingling with the attendees who meticulously recorded scenes at the event, including licence plates of vehicles parked at the gymnasium where the meeting took place.
A few days later, officials followed many party founders to their homes and made threats, according to the statement, which also claims that party founders, who attended the meeting, had done nothing to contravene the law or any NCPO orders.
It also urged state officials to stop any actions which would deprive people of their rights and liberty as well as pledge equal treatment for all political parties.
The statement was echoed by party members who also cried foul over the regime's intimidation of their people.
Party spokeswoman Pannika Wanich tweeted that although party members did nothing wrong by attending a meeting permitted by the regime, they nevertheless had visits to their homes.
She noted that several party founders in the provinces experienced officials following them home and making threats. Some were told by the officials that their meeting had run afoul of the law.
Deputy party leader Pongsakorn Rodchompoo also complained on Facebook about intimidation by officials.