01/23/2007
BY ATSUSHI YAMADA, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted as Thailand’s prime minister in a
military coup last September, said Monday it is essential for Thailand
to regain international trust by showing it is a proper democracy.
“The respect of the rule of law and the justice system (by
international society)” is at stake, he said. “What international
society worries about is that if the government under a coup d’etat
abolishes the Constitution, the rule of law will not be observed.”
Thaksin told The Asahi Shimbun in an interview in Tokyo that
he hoped he will not have to live in exile much longer. He said he
could play a “useful” role in restoring unity and international trust
in Thailand.
Thaksin, who has been living in Beijing and London since
September, said the bloodless coup had damaged his country’s standing
with the international community and that Thais, along with foreign
investors, would not tolerate a military regime over the long term.
“I am waiting for the situation to go back to normal, because
I want to urge the military government to restore unity to the Thai
people,” he said.
“I think I can be useful for the country. I can tell my supporters, ‘OK, it’s time that we should unite.’
“Thailand is still a good place to work and make money. This is
what I would tell the investors, foreign governments and the private
sector,” he said.
The coup occurred while Thaksin was visiting New York. He has not been allowed to return.
Since he arrived in Japan last Friday, Thaksin has been looking up acquaintances in Japanese political and business circles.
While he has refrained from making political statements,
Thaksin said he felt compelled to make it clear that he was in no way
involved in a terrorist bombing in Bangkok on New Year’s Eve.
Thaksin said the September coup was notable in that it resulted in a populist leader being toppled from power.
This, he said, highly damaged the country’s credibility in the international community.
“Thais have enjoyed democracy and never want to be under a
dictatorship or a non-democratic government,” he said. “But they can be
patient and tolerate such things to some extent, but not for too long.”
If the military junta postpones holding general elections,
public and foreign investors will likely shy away from Thailand, he
warned.
Thaksin likened the military leaders to bureaucrats, saying
they do not have the mind-set to catch up with intensifying global
competition.
Thaksin said he would seek assurances that he will be safe if
he is allowed to return. He insisted that he has no intention of going
back into domestic politics.
He added that he is willing to let younger members of his Thai Rak Thai Party lead the country.(IHT/Asahi: January 23,2007)
Thaksin rules out political comeback, stresses Japan trip ‘private’
Jan. 23 TOKYO, Japan
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra speaks in an interview with Kyodo News at a Tokyo hotel on Jan. 23. Thaksin ruled out any plans for a political comeback, stressing that his trips to Japan and elsewhere are ”private” and have no political agenda. He said he wishes to ”go back (to Thailand) as a private citizen” and get involved in charity work. (Kyodo)
Jan 23, 2007
Ousted Thai premier Thaksin in Japan, calls for constitutional rule
TOKYO (Jan 23, 2007): Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra expressed his wish to return to Thailand as soon as security is restored there, and complained that last September’s coup robbed his country of constitutional rule.
Thaksin, who landed in Tokyo Thursday (Jan 18) night on a private visit, told Japan’s Asahi Shimbun daily that Thailand had lost the trust of the international community because of the Sept 19 coup d’etat.
As a result, he said, the current military-installed government is not going to be well received internationally.
“The respect of the rule of law and the justice system (by the international community)” is at stake, Thaksin was quoted as saying.
“What international society worries about is that if the government under a coup d’etat abolishes the Constitution, the rule of law will not be observed.”
Thaksin himself was accused of flouting the country’s constitution during his rule from 2001-2006. Before he was deposed by the coup, thousands of anti-Thaksin demonstrators accused him of dictatorial rule.
The current military-backed government has accused him of trying to undermine the country’s stability. A visit last week to Singapore, where Thaksin gave interviews to international news organisations and met with the city-state’s deputy prime minister, outraged the Thai government and soured Bangkok-Singapore ties.
Thaksin has been in unofficial exile in London and Beijing sincethe bloodless military coup on Sept 19, which took place when he was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Since his arrival, he has met with several Japanese acquaintances in the business and political fields, while claiming the purpose of his Japan visit was “sightseeing,” according to the paper today.
Thaksin felt compelled to say that he was not involved in a series of terrorist bombings in Bangkok on New Year’s Eve, he told the press.
Since the September coup has damaged Thailand’s credibility in the international community, the former prime minister called for a quick restoration of democratic rule.
“Thais have enjoyed democracy and never want to be under a dictatorship or a non-democratic government,” he said. “But they can be patient and tolerate such things to some extent, but not for too long.”
Unless Thailand restores democratic leadership, it would fall behind the global competition and fail to take advantage of business opportunities, Thaksin said.
He said he had no more political ambitions but wished to return to his homeland as soon as his safety is assured. He expressed his intention to devote himself to charitable and religious work when he returns.
“I am waiting for the situation to go back to normal, because I want to urge the military government to restore unity to the Thai people,” he told the newspaper.
“I think I can be useful for the country. I can tell my supporters, ‘OK, it’s time that we should unite’.”
He claimed that during his premiership, he pushed reform, trying to build a democracy that respected the voices of the poor and developed the nation’s economy by intensifying competition. – dpa
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