Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya yesterday instructed local administrative organisations not to support groups participating in a mass rally in Bangkok scheduled for next Sunday.

Aree also told the organisations and their members not to take part in the Constitution Day rally themselves.

He instructed the organisations directly and in writing.

"I told them not to do anything that could further worsen the situation. Everybody knows if there are more problems things will get worse. So they must think of the country first and not themselves," the minister said.

Aree's orders came amid warnings the December 10 rally could be become a platform for supporters of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to attempt a major challenge to the military-backed government.

The government lifted martial law in Bangkok and some other provinces last week.

Political activists yesterday pointed to possible negative consequences for the administration and the Council for National Security (CNS) if errors were made in handling the protest.

Secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy Suriyasai Katasila yesterday warned the CNS to avoid force in dealing with protesters.

"The CNS must be careful to control the situation and it should not use violent measures as long as the demonstration is peaceful," Suriyasai said at a press conference.

He said use of military force might help win public sympathy for supporters of the ousted Thaksin government While public political rallies are inevitable after martial law is lifted Suriyasai did not think the December 10 rally would worry the government or the CNS.

"Due to widespread suspicion of links between rally organisers and former ruling politicians it's unlikely the number of protesters will be in the order of tens of thousands as claimed by some organisers," Suriyasai said.

Phumtham Wechayachai, a former close aide of Thaksin, yesterday declined to comment on allegations he was among members of the previous government said to be funding Sunday's rally.

"Let them talk. I will deal with them my way. I don't want to make any comment at the moment," he said.

A lawyer for Newin Chidchob - a former member of the Thaksin Cabinet - yesterday filed a police complaint against an activist who accused Newin of funding the rally.

Meanwhile, Isaan Liberation Front leader Thaikorn Polsuwan suggested a possible return by Thaksin because of a lack of competency and experience in the CNS.

He said the CNS' political analysis was flawed and the body had poor intelligence and advisers on Thailand's grassroots.

"CNS intelligence has never had any experience with the grassroots so it does not understand how to solve these people's problems or approach the problems correctly. Negotiating with protest leaders will not solve problems,'' he said.

He said Thaksin might attempt to return to power by letting the CNS govern, then claiming public opposition to junta rule and instigating protests by the middle-class and elite. The Thaksin camp could then create political upheaval and a counter-coup, Thaikorn said

In a related development, the September 19 Anti-Coup Network yesterday insisted the mass demonstration against the coup would proceed despite CNS efforts to stop it.

Network leader Assoc Prof Ji Ungpakorn said he would lead the protests at Sanam Luang and Democracy Monument on Sunday. He said the junta had tried to stop the network from protesting. "They release daily threats and reports they have sought negotiations with us,'' he said.

Ji said his group was entitled to protest dictatorship and the junta could not stop them. "We announce here that we will not negotiate with any dictators because they have no legitimacy. Their power was acquired undemocratically,'' he said.

He said the conflict was between the public and the junta and not personal.

His group dissociated itself from those led by Chanapat na Nakhon and Theppanom Siriwithayarak.

The CNS reportedly assigned its deputy secretary-general and assistant Army chief General Saprang Kalyanamitr to persuade pressure groups not to participate in the Constitution Day rally.

Political Desk

The Nation