"He is no longer in the pro-democracy camp but on the opposite side," Jaran told The Nation yesterday.

Jaran and Thirayuth - now a lecturer at Thammasat University - were members of the 1973 pro-democracy movement that led to the end of the Thanom Kittikachorn government. They were among those who fled into the jungle and fought with the Communist Party of Thailand.

Thirayuth is now a "supporter of the new dictatorial regime", Jaran said.

"He's essentially trying to tell society the junta is not dictatorial enough. I'm very disappointed.

"Although he was right when it came to criticism of the [Thaksin Shinawatra] government, his stance and aim is now to support the military order," Jaran said.

"He has changed. And, not only that, he has shifted into the camp opposite the people's democratic force," he added.

The commissioner said Thirayuth's alleged exit from the democracy movement had happened some time ago.

"Deep down these [intellectuals] are not pro-democracy. Most intellectuals do not believe in the democratic order. They believe in the individual. They believe the present regime is less evil than the Thaksin regime.

"Actually, the junta is worse. But, that's why they are calling for the current government to become more dictatorial and single-minded," he said.

Jaran also accused the media of siding with the junta, saying 70 per cent of the media supported the junta and the government it appointed.

"People who oppose the junta are branded either pro-Thaksin or accused of having stood by and done nothing while Thaksin was in power.

"Seventy per cent of the news media still criticises Thaksin to shore up the legitimacy of the

military dictatorship. [Journa-lists] dare not criticise the present order, or if they do they do so as supporters [of the junta]," he said.

"There are so many issues not being discussed by the media because it keeps dwelling on Thaksin."

Jaran said the pro-Thaksin PTV, or People's Television, should be allowed to broadcast.

It plans to go on air on Thursday despite government threats to take legal action against it.

"It has the right to communicate and interpret things as it sees them. This is a citizen's right. Nothing stopped community radio from broadcasting [in the past]," Jaran said.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation