PAD denies starting student boycott

Instead, the youths decided on their own to boycott classes. "The students have acted of their own free will, and their decision to boycott classes should not be construed as misconduct, but rather a sacrifice for the greater good of society," Chamlong said.

The government cannot ignore the voice of protesting students from 80 institutions.

Chamlong, one of the group's five core leaders, played down criticism that demonstrating students lacked credibility after the Students Federation of Thailand decided to abstain from PAD led protests.

Students have shown up in significant numbers and are a force to be reckoned with, he said.

Ramkhamhaeng University student leader Sikhanan Nulek said the government was trying to smear demonstrating students by suggesting they had "an ulterior motive".

Students decided on their political stand "without succumbing to partisan masterminds", Sikhanan said. The People Power Party is wrong to blame the Democrats for backing the students, he said.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutarak said the main coalition party had no justification in linking the Democrats with the students.

Buranat expressed concern that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his party were trying to undermine opposition and student activism by misleading the public that government opponents followed "the occult". Samak's remarks are confusing and embarrassing internationally, he said.

Meanwhile, Chamlong said negotiations to resolve the present political unrest were yet to start.