"When the armed forces are not controlled by representatives of the people, they cannot respond to the needs of the people and democratic order," the September 19 Network Against the Coup said in a statement.

The statement, above the name of Arunwana Sanikawathee, a Thammasat University senior journalism student, that was distributed and read in front of Army Headquarters yesterday evening.

Some 500 demonstrators attended the protest. The group burned clothing it said represented key coup leaders and Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.

About 200 police officers were on hand as the group staged its second demonstration outside the headquarters since the coup four months ago.

The network statement said the armed forces' biggest accomplishments since they were established had been to carry out countless coups "unmatched by any country in the world".

The group demanded a reorganisation of the relationship between the people and the forces, a matter not addressed by the 1997 People's Constitution.

Prem was repeatedly attacked and accused of involvement in the coup.

"Thailand now has three prime ministers - Surayud Chulanont, Sonthi Boonyaratglin and shadow leader of Thailand Prem," protest leader Sombat Boon-ngam-anong alleged.

Meanwhile, Confederation for Democracy leader Weng Tojirakarn accused the military of spending Bt1.5 billion of taxpayers' money to launch the coup.

On military interference in the news media, Sombat said broadcasters and publishers had a duty to present both sides of the debate and not limit the public's right to know.

The crowd heard the Council for National Security was using the news media to attack opponents and senior journalists should be wary of dining with the prime minister.

Ousted premier Thaksin Shin-awatra was accused of media intimidation through special business interests during his time in power.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

 Pravit Rojanaphruk

 The Nation