The emasculation tactic -- through poaching of former MPs and red shirt core members -- being employed against the Pheu Thai Party and the red shirt movement will not hand any pro-regime political party the upper hand at the election, Pheu Thai and red-shirt stalwarts say.
The Pheu Thai is facing the prospect of losing some of its political turf in the Northeast after the Sam Mitr (Three Allies) group drew former party MPs away.
The defectors drawn by Sam Mitr are said to be pledging allegiance to the pro-regime Phalang Pracharat Party reported to be a vehicle for securing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's return to the premiership after the election expected early next year.
Political sources said Sam Mitr has tapped into the two biggest northeastern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima and Ubon Ratchathani, leaving the Pheu Thai feeling increasingly unnerved.
The reported "siphoning" of political talent has brought some former MPs of various factions in Nakhon Ratchasima under Sam Mitr's wing. The factions are controlled by the Preecha Rengsomboonsuk and former deputy agriculture minister Virat Rattanaset.
The latest batch of politicians to be courted by the group are former MPs in Ubon Ratchathani belonging to the faction headed by Supol Fongngam, according to sources.
However, the sources agreed the poaching effort will not stop with Pheu Thai. In fact, red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) members are also on Sam Mitr's radar.
Sam Mitr secretary Pirom Polwiset recently divulged the names of some local red-shirt leaders who are joining the group. They were red shirts active in the mobilisation of UDD members in the districts and tambons although they may not be terribly useful in electioneering or giving the Phalang Pracharat an edge in the poll.
But having red shirt core members rally behind a party which sides with the regime which the UDD regards as the number-one enemy of democracy can be psychologically rousing for Phalang Pracharat, according the sources.
Korkaew Pikulthong, the UDD co-leader, has downplayed the tactic of isolating and weakening Pheu Thai.
"There's nothing to fear," he said.
The red shirts form part of Pheu Thai's electoral support. The Sam Mitr group and the regime realised they had to sap the party's strength by pulling away its ally.
However, the approach is pointless, Mr Korkaew said, insisting no red-shirt co-leaders have left the UDD so far.
"If you hang up the democracy shirt and join the dictator, who among the red shirts will follow you and betray the UDD's principles?" he said.
One of the high-profile red-shirt defectors is Suporn "Rambo Isan" Atthawong. Mr Korkaew said the regime may have welcomed Mr Suporn into its fold but it has not won the hearts and minds of the red shirts.
UDD co-leader Nattawut Saikuar said the UDD still regards red shirt defectors as friends. "But in political terms, we part ways here," he said.
He said the red shirts were free to join to any party or set up one. But once they forsake democracy, their membership is terminated.
Mr Nuttawut said he was not sure whether Sam Mitr was acting on the order of powers-that-be in "shopping" for former MPs. "It seems like a charade being orchestrated on a grand scale," he said.
Somkid Chuakong, Pheu Thai former MP for Ubon Ratchathani, admitted each red shirt figure who defects may have brought with them 5-10 close aides to the pro-government party. "But the fact remains that more people are sticking with the UDD than those turning their backs on it," he said.
- See also: Mobile cabinet seeks more defectors
