Activist faces lawsuit over coup comment

"The Democrats have an unwavering stand on democracy with the King as head of state, and do not condone any coups, past or future," party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said.

The party would study Chanwit's statement made on Saturday in full to determine whether it was libellous and take legal action if necessary, he said.

Chanwit made the remark about the Democrats during a press conference to deny he was behind the leaflets attacking Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda.

Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai had brought up the issue and Chanwit blam ed Chuan for trying to link him to the underground leaflets.

People Power Party MP Chatuporn Phromphan said opponents of the government were trying to involve the monarchy in the political rivalry. They also attempted to incite soldiers to seize power, he said.

Chatuporn said Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's remarks on the coup were meant to deter any attempted military intervention.

The opponents wanted to oust the government by any means and they were just using the charter debate as a pretext, he said, arguing the government would be faulted even if the charter rewrite plan was cancelled.

Campaign for Popular Democracy secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila said the situation was now more critical than what had prevailed before the 2006 coup.

He warned that as long as the government was bent on whitewashing former prime minister Thaksin Shinwatra through the charter rewrite, the divisiveness would worsen.

A royalist advocacy group led by Tul Sithisomwong called for an investigation into the state-run NBT Channel for suspiciously airing foreign news on the collapse of monarchies.

The group's petition was lodged with the PM's Office and the Public Relations Department which oversees the television channel.