Supreme Commander denies secret budget to destroy red shirts

Asked by reporters, Songkitti said laughingly: "None, none. What secret fund? I haven't seen any."

Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) leader Nattawut Saigua claimed earlier this week that a meeting report by the Army's Strategic Operation mentioned such a fund but Songkitti denied the existence of the document.

Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd rejected as groundless Nattawut's claim of a "secret budget".

He said Nattawut might have been referring to an Army project to train villagers in many rural areas about His Majesty the King's philosophy of sufficiency economy. He added that the project did not require Bt2 billion as had been alleged.

Sansern said the Army had no plan of undermining the red-shirt movement.

The Army spokesman said the politician might have got access to some document involving the project that was labelled "secret". He explained that the practice of labelling documents as "secret" was simply routine even though some documents did not deserve that status.

The Supreme Commander said yesterday that he was not worried about movements by Thaksin or the red-shirt DAAD because Thaksin is not saying or doing anything new.

"The way he said things have been [the same] for years. There's nothing new."

When asked what Thaksin should do, Songkitti said Thaksin should contribute to public good.

"I don't have high knowledge to advice anyone who's knowledgeable. Just stick to the natural principle of doing things for the public, which will bring happiness to the public," he said, adding he believes Thai society will move forward.

From Japan, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn also denied the military has such secret funding. Panitan said the schemes that government has in supporting "peaceful tambons" in the three southern most provinces and to support sustainable development in all villages.

"The prime minister never had such policy. The PM stressed on solving conflict through reconciliation," he said, adding Abhisit was pleased that the red-shirt protesters have not broken the law so far and would like to thank them. The government spokesman added, however, that next week, the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) would forward its annual budget for approval which will be subject to the government's discretion.

Meanwhile Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samuttarak said the allegation made by Nattawut is tantamount to slandering the government. He added that Nattawut should instead be concerned about lese majeste as during a protest by the DAAD on January 24, some protesters allegedly shouted "Long live Thaksin!" and that one DAAD member is still in jail for lese majeste.

Buranat denied the Democrat Party was using the institution of monarchy to destroy its enemy, as alleged by the DAAD, after Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban claimed that Thaksin wanted to return as president.

"I want to say that anyone dragging the institution in order to sow rift will be regarded as an enemy of the whole nation."