By The Nation
The government was the rumour monger about ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra financing the red shirts to stir up an upheaval, an aide to Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said on Wednesday.
"The government is trying to smear its opponents and it is not true Chavalit is pocketing the money from Thaksin," Pirat Sawamiwat said.
Pirat said he doubted whether Thaksin was in the financial position to finance the red shirts since he appeared not to be as wealthy as he used to be.
He said the rumour was cooked up to smear Chavalit and the red shirts. According to the rumour, Chavalit siphoned the funds from Thaksin earmarked for a retired general who acts as a coordinator with the red shirts to plan for a showdown with the government.
Red-shirt supporter Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol said Thaksin did not provide financial backing because the red shirts financed their activities through fund-raising dinner parties.
In his radio message on Tuesday's night, Thaksin said he supported the red shirts to fight for change by peaceful means although they needed to have guards to protect their rally to avoid a repeat of Songkran mayhem in which the crowds were dispersed and defeated because they were unorganised.
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