The New Year bomb blasts exhibited reckless disregard for public safety and were carried out by ill-intentioned people seeking to undermine the government for self-serving gain, the chief adviser to His Majesty the King declared yesterday.

"Attacks on innocent people are most despicable acts only fanatics or the most cruel individuals could contemplate," General Prem Tinsulanonda said.

The president of the Privy Council said it was clear from the nature of the attacks that the real targets were the government and the Council for National Security.

"If you don't like the government then attack it directly," he said, condemning the attacks on innocent people as irresponsible and cowardly.

He insisted the authorities swiftly restore normalcy.

"Ill-intentioned people should be exposed for their evil, and the authorities must do everything in their power to safeguard the country and its people," he said. He referred to what he termed vested interests behind the bombings.

He made the remarks at his Nakhon Ratchasima home after welcoming New Year well-wishers led by provincial governors and senior military officers stationed in the Northeast.

Meanwhile, former supreme commander General Saiyud Kerdphol said three groups were suspected in the December 31 blasts.

One group includes those ousted from power in the September coup and seeking to destabilise the military-backed government.

Another is those in the current government who want to tighten their grip on power.

The third group is involved in the deep-South insurgency, Saiyud said.

Former Air Force leader Air Chief Marshall Arun Promthep thought the involvement of southern militants was unlikely because they had no sympathisers in Bangkok to hide them after detonating the bombs.

However, Thai Rak Thai acting leader Chaturon Chaisang accused the government of blowing suspected political violence out of proportion and triggering a climate of fear.

"Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont shows his ineptitude in communicating with the public by sounding an alarm over the possibility of more bombs in the coming two months without justification," Chaturon said.

He encouraged Surayud to speak only if he had evidence and not float negative opinions that only dampened public sentiment and hurt the economy.

He also dismissed Surayud's remarks about a link between the New Year bomb attacks and a coup rumour that circulated on Thursday.

"I heard about the rumoured second coup from senior police and military officers and don't think it is groundless speculation," he said.

Meanwhile, the chief legal counsel for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the ousted leader had not sneaked into Thailand via Koh Kong in Cambodia.

"Thaksin is in Beijing and has no firm timetable for a return to Thailand," Noppadon Pattama said.

In the near future Thaksin may end his exile to defend himself against charges in this country, he added.

"Should the time come, Thaksin will travel and enter the country openly like other citizens," he said.

He dismissed speculation Thaksin had paid former Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to arrange his comeback.

"Rumour about a Thaksin-Chavalit financial link is clearly designed to tarnish Thaksin's image," he said.

Thai Rak Thai executive member Ekaporn Rakkwamsuk said authorities should not suspect the party of involvement in bombings.

"The party is struggling to survive [a judicial review of electoral-fraud allegations] and has no resources to do anything other than fight to avoid its dissolution," he said.

Ekaporn encouraged the Council for National Security to devote itself to improving political systems instead of becoming engulfed in second-coup paranoia.

"I just hope the council does its job properly rather than boasting of its patriotism and putting blame on ousted politicians," he said.

The Nation

NAKHON RATCHASIMA