Thaksin says return depends on fair trial

Thu Jul 5, 11:00 AM ET

TOKYO (AFP) -
Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Thursday he will only return to Thailand to face corruption charges if he can be sure of a fair trial.

“If I go back (now), it means that I will not be getting a fair trial
anyway,” Thaksin said in an interview with Kyodo News during a visit to
Japan.

“I will return to face the facts and trial if and when the justice system goes back to normal,” he said.

Thaksin was ousted in a military-backed bloodless coup in September
while he was out of Thailand and the junta has subsequently laid a raft
of corruption charges against him.

He and his wife Pojaman are both outside the country, but have been
ordered to appear before police by July 27 to hear fraud charges. The
justice ministry has threatened to seek their extradition if they fail
to comply.

Thaksin also delivered a speech on Thursday at a Tokyo university where he has been appointed visiting professor, calling for Asia to create an environment in which venture capital can thrive.

“We have to provide the mechanism that allows to create a more
entrepreneurial class here in Asia,” Thaksin told students at Takushoku
University.

“If you have enough wisdom in this capitalist economy, you can turn
paper into money. But if you’re not clever enough, your money becomes
paper.”

A self-made entrepreneur, Thaksin built his political success on
support from the nation’s poor, highlighting his own rags-to-riches
story.

After failed ventures into the silk and film distribution businesses,
he founded telecoms giant Shin Corp before venturing into politics. He
created his own political party “Thai Rak Thai” before winning elections and taking the helm of the country.

Last month, Thaksin launched a 162.6 million-dollar bid to buy Manchester City football club.

The former Thai leader said Asia needed to do more to help entrepreneurs.

“Being an entrepreneur in the US is much easier than in Asia,” he said.

“You can turn into a businessman overnight after going into a pub…and
jot down ideas on a beer mat. Then you go to the venture capital, get
money and build your own business. Easy,” he added.

“If you are small and you cannot move fast, you are finished. Whether
you like it or not, you live in a capitalist economy. You have to learn
to survive,” he told the students.

Photo :Bangsai Villager

Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra speaks before students
at the Takushoku University in Tokyo Thursday, July 5, 2007. Thaksin,
who was invited as a guest lecturer, spoke about Asian Business and
Economic Model.

Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra receives a bouquet of
flowers after his lecture as a visiting professor at Tokyo’s Takushoku
University, 05 July 2007. Thaksin is in Japan to assume the post of
visiting professor at Takushoku University

Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves to students after
his lecture as a visiting professor at Tokyo’s Takushoku University, 05
July 2007. Thaksin is in Japan to assume the post of visiting professor
at Takushoku University

Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gives a lecture as a
visiting professor at Tokyo’s Takushoku University, 05 July 2007.
Thaksin is in Japan to assume the post of visiting professor at
Takushoku University

Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra reacts after his lecture
as a visiting professor at Tokyo’s Takushoku University, 05 July 2007.
Thaksin is in Japan to assume the post of visiting professor at
Takushoku University

Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gives a lecture as a
visiting professor at Tokyo’s Takushoku University, 05 July 2007.
Thaksin is in Japan to assume the post of visiting professor at
Takushoku University

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