Yongyuth said the department had borrowed old guns from the Army for a decade, and the recalls were made regularly each year and according to the Army's needs.

However, department director-general Damrong Phidet would discuss the need for the guns to be recalled and how to count the returned weapons with Army officials today, Yongyouth said.

Yongyuth said he would file a libel suit against anyone who intentionally caused misunderstanding by suggesting there were conflicts between the government and the Army - and using his name.

"Some people add 'colour' to small incidents to cause rifts in society as well as misunderstandings about the government. The Wildlife Fund of Thailand, an organisation opposed to the government, raised and blew up the gun recall to blame the government," he said.

He said the Army's training of forestry officers in how to use weapons was a regular thing and he had not ordered such training to be done secretly.

Army deputy spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said the Army had recalled the guns from the department since 2003, but the department asked for an extension period so the Army allowed longer usage year-by-year.

However, the Army is now short

of guns for its mission to secure peace in the far South. Thus it recalled all the rifles. The matter was not political.

Damrong said he had a letter asking the Army to allow the department to use the guns for an extended period. But if the Army did not allow that, he would ask the government for funds to buy catapults for officers doing forest patrols - for the same number of guns returned.

"I'm not joking or being sarcastic. If it's necessary, we have to do this because currently, officers trying to preserve the forest are short of

guns already. Some have had to spend their own money on their guns," he said.

He said forestry officers had to deal with armed guerrillas deep in the woods, some of whom came from neighbouring countries to hunt in Thai forests. And their weapons were advanced.

Damrong said on Sunday the Army recently sent a letter ordering the return of its HK33 rifles.

The guns, used at 143 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, are to be returned next month.

Erb Choengsa-ard, superintendent of West Tungyai Wildlife Sanctuary, said 16 units with 200 officers in his areas of responsibility had 30 HK33 rifles. Fifteen of them had been used since 1974 when the unit was set up.

He said 60 officers had to patrol every day to protect the area from Karen soldiers seeking to smuggle timber or to trap animals. The weapons gave the officers a certain amount of confidence.

"If the guns are taken back, the officers may be very discouraged. Many times we have had to fight the Karen with broken rifles - fighting against their AK assault rifles.

"Sometimes we have had to run

for our lives. I can say we have never used the weapons to bully people," he said.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Janjira Pongrai

The Nation