Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has insisted the audio clip emailed to the public that sounded like his voice had been edited and was misleading. The voice on the clip orders officials to use force against red-shirt protesters during the Songkran riots in April.
"I have listened to the clip and it is definitely an edited clip because I have never given out such order," Mr Abhisit said on Thursday.
The altered voice message was emailed to the public to mislead people into believing the government had been looking for an excuse to impose the state of emergency to deal with the protesters in April, he said.
The voice message was also played by DStation, the satellite TV channel operated by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
The prime minister said he would bring charges against the person responsible for releasing the audio clip, and warned the red-shirt group not to spread it because he would take legal action against them as well.
Mr Abhisit said he would meet national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon in the afternoon to discuss measures to maintain law and order during the UDD demonstration on Sunday.
The UDD leaders confirmed that a mass demonstration will take place in front of Government House this weekend, even if the government enforces the Internal Security Act in an attempt to control them.
The security law will be imposed in Bangkok's Dusit district for four days, from Aug 29 to Sept 1.
UDD leaders Veera Musikhapong, Nattawut Saikua and opposition Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan held a press conference on Thursday morning.
The cabinet had violated the constitution by approving the use of the Internal Security Act, Mr Veera claimed.
"People have the right to organise a political gathering under a democratic system," he said.
Mr Nattawut said the government had been spreading rumours that a third party may instigate unrest during Sunday's rally.
"The government aims to destroy the legitimacy of the UDD," he said.
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- Writer: BangkokPost.com
