Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has dismissed a claim by red shirt protest leader Jatuporn Prompan that black-clad gunmen spotted at street protests in 2010 were connected with soldiers.
In response to Mr Jatuporn's allegation that some "men in black" were seen leaving the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok in a police vehicle, Gen Prayuth said he thought it highly unlikely.
"I do not know whether there were men in black or not, but soldiers and police were injured and killed in those clashes," he said.
"People should judge for themselves the likelihood of the allegation. Thais should not let themselves be misled." Mr Jatuporn met Department of Special Investigation (DSI) interrogators yesterday to give his account of the political violence in 2010.
He said black-clad snipers were based near soldiers in many areas and followed red shirt leader Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol to Hua Chiew Hospital after he had been shot.
Mr Jatuporn said the Abhisit Vejjajiva government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which led the crackdown, spread stories about the men in black before the crackdowns on protesters even began.
Meanwhile, red shirt co-leader Dr Weng Tojirakarn, who is also a list MP of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, has asked the House Speaker to release a report on the political demonstrations in 2010.
A committee of MPs and senators was formed during the term of former parliament president Chai Chidchob to investigate the protests, but its report had not been released, he said.
Dr Weng also said the then government had dispersed demonstrators violently and two men and a private had died suspiciously in 2010.
He plans to ask the DSI to get the report from parliament.
Pol Gen Wirun Fuensaen, chairman of the House committee on laws, justice and human rights, received Dr Weng's request addressed to the House Speaker yesterday. He said he would ask Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont if the report could be released.