Date – September 3, 2010

Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has come out and slammed the accusation that the M 79 grenade attack at the head office of the National Broadcasting Service of Thailand (NBT) was carried out by state authorities with an aim to have the emergency decree extended, while at the same time has quashed rumors that a coup d'etat was in the pipeline.

Gen Prawit said he preferred to see the lifting of the emergency law, especially when the country is calmer.     

The Defence Minister also denied rumors that a group of soldiers are joining forces to stage a coup as they do not want the country to have the general election. He reaffirmed that today the situation is normal and the issue of the general election depends upon the Prime Minister.

He also condemned those who leaked out rumors about the possible coup by the army.