Some 15,000 Thai troops were on alert across the country yesterday as security fears rose ahead of a court decision on whether to dissolve the kingdom's two largest political parties.
The verdict, which was to be read out today, could plunge Thailand's political system into disarray and has raised concerns for violent unrest.
The soldiers have been stationed in their barracks, waiting to deploy if the security situation deteriorates, Council for National Security (CNS) spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said.
"We will assess the situation after the court delivers its verdict and combine that with our intelligence gathering before we stand the troops down," he said.
Thailand's Constitutional Tribunal must decide whether Thai Rak Thai, the party formed by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the Democrat Party are guilty of a slew of charges of electoral fraud related to annulled elections in April last year.
If the parties are found guilty the tribunal has the power to dissolve them and ban their executives from politics for five years.
The potentially divisive ruling comes after more than a year of political upheaval culminating in the Sept. 19 coup against Thaksin.
The junta which seized power has promised to hold a referendum on their new constitution ahead of planned elections by December.
But analysts say dissolving Thailand's main parties could cause chaos, and fears of violence in Bangkok have prompted warnings that the junta could resort to "an emergency decree" if necessary.
"The CNS considers the event on Wednesday as a top priority," Sunsern said, warning that a state of emergency would be declared at the first sign of trouble.
Junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin will command security operations beginning Tuesday, said a source at the Internal Security Operation Command, adding that troops had already secured strategic areas around the country.
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