Democrat deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr's accusation against forestry officials and an unspecified minister was false, Yongyuth said.

Between 2001 and Yongyuth's appointment to the ministry two years ago, the Forestry Industry Organisation (FIO) sold 31,896 cubic metres of eucalyptus, the minister said. Since his appointment, however, no trees had been sold, he said. Moreover, all previous sales were done through auctions, he insisted.

Yongyuth said he had ordered the caretaker managing direc

tor of the FIO, which owns the plantation, to file a libel suit against Alongkorn as its reputation had been damaged by the accusation.

Alongkorn should have asked him about the allegations as a friend instead of politicking, Yongyuth said, as they could have investigated any corruption together.

On Sunday, Alongkorn said he had received a letter regarding alleged illegal timber sales at his post box Number 222 - used especially for corruption complaints.

Yongyuth, who supervises the organisation, should have investigated the case, he said. If Alongkorn didn't apologise, Yongyuth said he would go looking for him.

"On [Thursday], I will go the Democrat Party headquarters. If he isn't there but at his mother-in-law's house, his wife's house or anywhere else, I'll follow him. If he says he's busy, I'll wait all day. I'll drive to see him if he's in any province. I'll ask him for the truth about the illegal sales. Reporters will be with me so they can hear what I ask Alongkorn. We'll arrest anyone involved in fraud," he said.

The FIO's caretaker managing director, Manoonsak Tuntiwiwut, said cheats might have used false documents to lure others to buy their wood without going through an auction.

Hassaya Chatmontri

The Nation