CDR spokesman Lt-General Palangkoon Klaharn did not rule out that the schools were set ablaze in an act of defiance against the coup.

He also declined to say how much information on the attacks the military had to determine what the real motive was.

"Those who did it should give yourselves up to the authorities because the evidence being gathered will certainly lead to you in the end. It would be good if you make it known why you did it - and what local conflicts led to the attacks," he said.

The spokesman said CDR leader and Army commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin was "saddened" by the arson attacks, given that schools were public property and needed to keep children educated.

"If an assurance is needed that such an incident will not recur, the CDR needs co-operation from the public, and if the co-operation can be secured, the CDR could confirm that such an act will not occur again," said Palangkoon.

A radio address broadcast by the Third Army yesterday condemned the arson attacks, saying that it wondered whether the arsonists or the masterminds were Thai people because their acts hurt fellow countrymen and their own descendants.

Meanwhile, three former Thai Rak Thai MPs for Kamphaeng Phet dismissed suggestions yesterday they were behind the arson attacks. They said no one would be stupid enough to risk execution by doing such acts at a time of martial law.

Waiphoj Arphornphat did not answer questions yesterday, but made a comment that arson attacks were punishable by death during martial law.

"No one would dare to do such a thing," he said.

Sanan Sabaimueng said the person who did it was very stupid and very bad - because the arson attacks affected schoolchildren.

Asked if he was aware of who was behind it, the former MP said he was dazed and never expected to see arson attacks in his province.

"It's like a copycat of what is happening in the South. Then local politicians are made scapegoats," he said.

Kha-nueng Thaiprasit said the arson attacks were unbelievable to him, but he would not speculate on whether national or local politicians ordered the schools to be set ablaze.

Chairman of a teachers' body in Kamphaeng Phet, Kecha Decha, ruled out the possibility that the fires stemmed from work-related conflicts among teachers and local education personnel. He also dismissed local politics as a reason for the fires.

The heads of education offices in 42 zones in all 17 north-eastern provinces will meet today at the Army's Somdej Phra Naresuan Maharaj camp in Phitsanulok province. The Third Army region commander has asked them to discuss the problem and work out preventive measures against any possible attacks.

A military source said military and police officials had not received any useful leads about the fires. All military officers hunting for the arsonists have aborted their efforts while police and civilian officials conduct further inquiries.