Police should investigate the alleged bankrolling of political rallies by former PM's Office Minister Newin Chidchob, Thammasat University law lecturer Surasak Likhasitwatanakul said yesterday.

Surasak was referring to fresh revelations about Newin made over the weekend by activist Thepanom Siriwitayarak.

Thepanom claimed that Newin had financed the anti-coup rally planned for next Sunday and had paid protesters to blockade the office of Kom Chad Luek newspaper, a sister publication of The Nation, back in March.

Newin denied his involvement in the newspaper blockade as well as the upcoming rally.

Surasak said he viewed Thepanom's remarks as new evidence in regard to the Kom Chad Luek rally.

"Police should look into the matter again because Newin has criminal culpability if he is linked to the siege at the newspaper's office," the lecturer said.

Asked to comment again yesterday, Thepanom said he would not backtrack from his remarks and was prepared to defend himself in the courts.

"I opposed the coup and I side with the deposed government, hence I see nothing wrong in admitting to the money paid by ousted leaders," he said.

He said he received a seven-figure payment to organise the anti-coup rally. He also pointed out that his planned rally was not connected with another protest organiser, Chanapat na Nakhon.

Chanapat is a ex-Communist sympathiser and claims to have been paid by remnants of the Thai Rak Thai Party to oppose the coup. Army Chief of Staff General Montri Sangkhasap said he was confident the anti-coup rally would not spiral out of control.

"I am sure everyone is loyal to the country and the King and no one will want to cause trouble," he said, dismissing speculation that ousted leaders could mobilise the crowds to undermine the interim government.

He said the military remained vigilant in regard to the rally but did not view it as a security threat. Police were expected to keep the situation under control, he added.

The Council for National Security was closely monitoring anti-coup activities and had assigned its assistant secretary General Saprang Kalayanamitr to reason with protest leaders, he said.

Chanapat said authorities were trying to discourage protesters coming from upcountry to rally in Bangkok.

"I understand that the Interior Ministry has instructed provincial governors to blacklist local politicians who are encouraging villagers to take part in the rally," he said.

He said it was undemocratic to curb the basic right to stage political gatherings and warned that authorities should not try to stop protesters from going to Bangkok because this could lead to public resentment.