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Published on November 16, 2007

Supol Yutithada, chairman of the committee in charge of probing the alleged plot, said the Council for National Security (CNS) officers reported to the panel to confirm the existence of the two controver?sial CNS documents.

Supol said the officers, Major-Gen Panya Rodchaur and Colonel Chatchalerm Chalermsuk, gave the panel five documents related to the case. But he had not yet to look into the details, he said.

The officers accepted that the documents did exist, he said.

Allegations of a plot against the PPP emerged when party leader Samak Sundaravej revealed copies of documents approved by deputy premier Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin in September, when he was the Army commander-in-chief and CNS chairman.

Samak said the CNS planned to block his party from winning the general election.

Chatchalerm, whose signature appears on one of the documents, admitted the signature was his and agreed the panel did not have to prove its authenticity, he said.

However, the panel would have to look into details of the documents to make sure they were the same as the PPP's photocopies, Supol said.

"The Army officers told us why the documents were issued, but we cannot reveal that at this point," Supol said.

The panel was due to question the editor of Matichon newspaper today, and then it would consider the details of the documents on Monday. The probe should be finished this month, he said.

Panya and Chatchalerm refused to comment after the session.

Meanwhile, Gen Sonthi dismissed rumours deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra talked with his high-ranking friends from Cadet Academy Class 10 to pave the way for him to safely return home. Those friends allegedly include Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda.

Sonthi said such a link-up was not possible and he suggested the rumour was an attempt to cause a rift in the Army.

Asked if he spoke to Anupong about the rumour, Sonthi told reporters they should speak to Anupong. He said he trusted Anupong, otherwise he would not have appointed him his successor.

The Nation