Thai Rak Thai Party deputy spokesman Jatuporn Promphan, right, enters into a heated exchange with Ramkhamhaeng University student union leader Somchote Meechana at the party’s headquarters yesterday. Somchote led a protest against what he termed political

Some 20 students led by student organisation chairman Somchote Meechana submitted a letter to Thai Rak Thai caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang.

But Jatuporn received the letter himself.

The students also brought a banner that read: "We demand political groups stop interfering with the student organisation."

Jatuporn denied he had asked the Sattha Dharma Party to assist Thai Rak Thai in protesting against the junta. Sattha Dharma is a student group contesting the student elections.

Jatuporn, a former Ramkhamhaeng student, was earlier accused of hiring the university's students to protest against the military-installed government.

"I want you to think it over if you ever met the junta and received money or not. I want you swear to me that you did not lie," he said angrily.

He then admitted he was a

former Sattha Dharma member - having denied any knowledge of

the group two days ago - and said he was always invited to lecture when the student elections were held.

Somchote countered Jatuporn by saying that he and other stu-dents had come to the Thai Rak Thai headquarters because it was the duty of the student organisation. He insisted they had never received any money from the Council for National Security (CNS).

As soon as Somchote finished speaking, Jatuporn pointed at

the group and shouted furiously: "You are brave to swear that you

have never known the CNS or received money from them.

"We are Ramkhamhaeng, too,

so don't you lie to me. Ramkham-haeng students in the past fought with the dictator, but today what do you do? When the military made a coup, were you concerned?"

Jatuporn said he would today file a police complaint against the group.