Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday returned to Bangkok from Nakhon Ratchasima just a day after travelling to his official residence there for a vacation.
Second Region Army commander Lt-General Wiwalit Jonsamrit rejected earlier media reports that there had been a shooting in front of Prem's residence.
"There was no extreme incident outside General Prem's house, as had been reported by certain news stations. I'd like to ask the mass media to report carefully and accurately," Wiwalit said.
Prem, a former commander of the Second Region Army, left the residence at about 10am and returned by van to Bangkok. He had arrived in Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday and was welcomed by the local military commander, regional police chief and provincial governor.
His residence was guarded by some 50 heavily armed police and military officers throughout the night.
About an hour before his return, Royal Thai Air Force Private Thawatchai Anthaisong, a security guard at the Tiger Club golf course, accidentally fired his gun at Anek Kaewpaitoon, his friend who works as a caddie there. Anek was rushed to hospital with a serious facial injury.
Wiwalit said Prem's trip to Nakhon Ratchasima was part of his "normal vacation".
He said the Privy Council chief had asked him about the movement of the red shirts in the region, and he told him that there had been no tendency towards violence.
In a related development, Army chief General Anupong Paochinda yesterday rejected a claim by red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua that the Army had paid Prem Bt200,000 every month. "We have never done so. There is no budget set aside for such a payment," he said, adding that he had asked a long-time Army comptroller who insisted there was no such practice.
Prem's aide ACM Pajun Tarmprateep yesterday gave to Army beat reporters copies of the Privy Council chief's written explanation against allegations that Prem was behind the 2006 coup and evaded income tax.
