The Democrat Party yesterday called on the government to probe an audio clip in which two men discuss a plot to bring ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra home.
The clip, posted on YouTube on Saturday, was said to be a conversation between Thaksin and new deputy defence minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa, who met in Singapore late last month.
Gen Yutthasak promptly denied that the voice in the clip was his.
The conversation was about a plan to push for an amnesty law to quickly bring Thaksin home and the possibility of amending the Defence Ministry's regulations concerning a military reshuffle. The men also discussed the government's control of the armed forces.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the clip also offered a glimpse of future conflicts and divisiveness when it touched on a plan to push for an amnesty decree.
The men in the recording also discussed a plan to involve the Defence Council in the process of issuing an amnesty decree. The council is chaired by the defence minister. "It shows certain preparations are being made that can lead to conflicts and chaos," he said.
The Democrat leader said the clip also explained what might have prompted the recent cabinet reshuffle in which Prime Minister Yingluck will double as the defence minister and Gen Yutthasak will serve as her deputy.
It was widely speculated the reshuffle at the Defence Ministry was part of a political agenda.
"I made an observation that the deputy defence minister was brought in to do some work," he said.
"And if this audio clip is for real, the government's claim about the reshuffle is a lie."
Mr Abhisit said the conversation between the two men raised concerns that peace and reconciliation would never be realised.
Their way of thinking reflected an intent to abuse state power for personal gains.
He called on the army and state authorities not to bow to political interference. "I am concerned that we are being pushed into a civil war," he said.
"Some groups think only about themselves and their benefits."
Former Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said the clip was abhorrent.
"[They] want to propose an amnesty decree, instead of a bill. That's awful," he said. "It is an insult to the public and mocks the rules. We can't accept this."
Mr Suthep also warned about a public uprising if an amnesty decree was pushed through.
Green Politics group coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said yesterday the clip was likely to be genuine because the content was in line with current political developments.
He said the conversation reaffirmed that Thaksin was persisting with his plan to return to Thailand without having to serve a jail term handed to him in absentia in 2008 for a corruption conviction.
Mr Suriyasai said Thaksin had tried to push through his plan with help from former deputy prime minister Chalerm Yubamrung and the red shirts, but had failed. "So he moved Mr Chalerm to the Labour Ministry after the failure, and started over with the plan by using Gen Yutthasak," he said.
He said Gen Yutthasak had to do more than dismiss the clip as a fake.
"Gen Yutthasak is required to convince the people that such a plan does not exist and that he has not taken an assignment from Thaksin to take complete control of the armed forces," Mr Suriyasai said. "He cannot just simply deny the clip is real."
Mr Suriyasai said the armed forces are also required to convince the public they would not be a tool for Thaksin.
He said the clip and various mocked-up images by members of the public posted online since the reshuffle were the result of unsettled conflicts of interest in the government.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday the clip was not real.
Mr Prompong said impersonating the voices of important people can be a way to deceive or blackmail people.
The Pheu Thai spokesman believed more clips of a similar nature would be posted online.
"I would like the people to know that the voices in the clip are not real," Mr Prompong said.
"We can expect to see more clips posted online.
"It is the work of people who have been disappointed and are not getting what they want."
He also told the Democrat Party not to exploit the issue.