Thirapat was speaking after Thai Rak Thai's Kuthep Saikrajang said on Wednesday that party caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang had requested the Public Relations Department (PRD) to lease airtime on Channel 9 and Channel 11 to explain the dissolution of the party. So far, the party has not received a reply from the PRD.

The Constitution Tribunal will deliver its verdict on the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties on May 30 and the PM's Office believes that such a tactic by the Thai Rak Thai would only cause further speculation and confusion.

 "It is up to the TV stations whether to give airtime or not. However, in my view, the Thai Rak Thai should hear the ruling from the Constitution Tribunal before making any comment on television," Thirapat said.

"If the party states its case before the tribunal issues its ruling, it may cause greater confusion. The party should respect the tribunal and hear the ruling before it does anything," he said.

PM's Office minister Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan said yesterday that she had not seen a letter from Thai Rak Thai asking to lease airtime from government stations.

Dhipavadee, who supervises the PRD, said she has asked about Chaturon's letter, but department staff said they had not yet seen the letter.

"I will wait for the letter before considering allowing airtime," she said.

The PM's Office minister said that in general Channel 11 did not give airtime to producers of political programmes, adding the station's main programming was news coverage and providing information from state agencies.