Little evidence of Thaksin graft

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6087342.stm

 

Thaksin Shinawatra is currently in exile in the UK

Thai investigators are struggling to find definite evidence that ex-Premier Thaksin Shinawatra is guilty of graft. Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who launched last month’s coup to oust Mr Thaksin, said it was “difficult to implicate” him in any major corruption cases.

The news is a major set-back for the coup leaders, who cited massive government corruption as one of the main reasons for the takeover.

Speculation is mounting that Mr Thaksin might try to return to Thailand soon.

He is currently staying with his daughter in London.

On Thursday Mr Thaksin’s wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, met with Prem Tinsulanonda, the top adviser to Thailand’s revered king, in what reports suggest was an attempt to ease the way for her husband to fly back to Bangkok.

But in an interview with the English-language Nation newspaper, Gen Sonthi said: “If he’s really concerned about the country, he shouldn’t try to come back at present.”

Asked what would happen if Mr Thaksin “just got on a plane”, Gen Sonthi said: “It wouldn’t be allowed to land”.

Call for patience

Various investigations are currently under way in Thailand, to look into corruption allegations involving Mr Thaksin’s family and close government aides – but principally focusing on the ex-prime minister himself.

The coup leaders have cited alleged graft as one of the main justifications for coup – and are under huge pressure to prove that their claims are well-founded.

But Gen Sonthi told the Nation: “I am not sure how far the Office of the Auditor General can investigate suspected corruption cases involving Thaksin. They might get nowhere at all.”

Gen Sonthi explained that the country’s new rulers were in a difficult position.

“Thai people are not easy to please,” he was quoted as saying – adding that some Thais wanted a swift, ruthless probe while others were calling for a transparent – and possibly long drawn-out – investigation.

“We have to abide by the law, and take all parties’ concerns into consideration,” Gen Sonthi said – adding that all proper legal requirements had to be observed.

“I know how the people feel. I guess I feel the same way when I watch soccer. I am always frustrated when waiting for my team to score and feel like getting on the field and playing myself,” he said.

Thai coup leader admits little proof of Thaksin corruption

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061026/wl_asia_afp/thailandpolitics

by Griffin Shea Thu Oct 26, 7:37 AM ET

AFP/File Photo: Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (L) and his wife Pojaman are pictured in Bangkok,…

Slideshow: Military Coup in ThailandBANGKOK (AFP) – Investigators have failed to uncover solid evidence of corruption by ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the country’s coup leader has said, undermining the main rationale for the takeover.

However, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin advised Thaksin against returning in the near future and warned the military was on the alert for any risk of a counter-coup by his supporters.

“It will be difficult to implicate him” in major corruption cases, Sonthi told the Nation newspaper Thursday.

“I am not sure how far the Office of the Auditor General can investigate suspected corruption cases involving him. They might get nowhere at all,” he said.

“We cannot impound the money he made with accountable legal evidence, but can only look for some possible hidden (evidence) with questionable background,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Sonthi has repeatedly justified the bloodless September 19 coup by saying widespread corruption during Thaksin’s five years in office had undermined democracy.

He quickly revived the nation’s dormant corruption watchdogs and set up his own high-powered team of investigators to look into graft allegations against Thaksin.

“Under the previous government, widespread corruption was evident. The administration was plagued by irregularities,” he told the paper.

But Sonthi acknowledged the military could lose the public support it has generally enjoyed since the coup if nothing emerged to back up specific corruption claims.

“We have tried to abide by the law and take all parties’ concerns into account,” he was quoted as saying.

“For example, the international community is watching to see whether human rights and civil liberties are being violated” during the corruption probes, he said.

“I know how the people feel. I guess I feel the same way when I watch soccer. I am always frustrated when waiting for my team to score and feel like getting on the field and playing myself,” he said.

Political science lecturer Sombat Chantawong said he did not know why Sonthi made the comments before the anti-graft bodies had completed their investigations.

“The coup group needs to prove that their reasons are true, otherwise they will be in trouble,” he told AFP. “Otherwise the coup leaders only ousted the government to take power.”

Sonthi also told the Nation that the military was on guard for a possible counter-coup movement, and warned Thaksin not to try to return home yet.

“If he’s really concerned about the country, he shouldn’t try to come back at present,” Sonthi was quoted as saying.

“For people who used to have so much and lose it so swiftly, it’s hard to come to terms with that, and they may do everything necessary to get it all back,” he said.

Thaksin was in New York when the coup occurred, and has stayed in exile in London since.

His wife, Pojaman, had gone to meet him, but has since returned to Thailand.

She spent 15 minutes early Thursday meeting former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda, a top adviser to Thailand’s revered king, who told her that Thaksin should accept his fate, according to a general who attended the meeting.

“He also asked Khunying (Pojaman) to tell Thaksin to accept the situation, that he has lost power, that it would have happened one day anyway, and asked Thaksin to be strong and be patient,” General Oud Beungbon told reporters.

Prem is believed to have played a key role in orchestrating the coup, and many of the leaders imposed by the military in government and in parliament have close ties to him.

In his interview with the Nation, Sonthi denied he had informed Prem before staging the coup, but cited the Thaksin government’s perceived lack of respect for the monarchy as one of his reasons for the takeover.

“The military cannot tolerate any leaders who lack or have limited loyalty to the king,” he told the paper.

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who at 78 has spent six decades on the throne, is revered by his people and any perceived insult to him is a serious crime here.

But Sonthi said that criminal charges that Thaksin had insulted the king were also failing to stick.

“He has cleared some of the cases (before the coup), and our officials are looking into the other remaining cases,” he said.

Thaksin plane ‘would be blocked’

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/25/thailand.coup.ap/

POSTED: 0328 GMT (1128 HKT), October 25, 2006

var clickExpire = “11/24/2006”;BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — The leader of last month’s military coup says any airplane carrying toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand would not be allowed to land, a newspaper reported Thursday.

Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin indicated that Thaksin, now staying in London, was apparently trying to use his immense wealth to stage a political comeback.

Sonthi said Thaksin would not be allowed to return until after martial law is lifted, The Nation newspaper said. He did not say when martial law would end.

Asked what would happen if Thaksin “just got on a plane and flew here,” the report quoted Sonthi as saying: “It wouldn’t be allowed to land.”

The newspaper, citing an interview conducted Tuesday, said Sonthi acknowledged that post-coup investigations have so far not uncovered any solid links between Thaksin and major corruption scandals under his regime.

“It will be difficult to implicate him,” Sonthi said, adding that real proof of corruption may lie in “something hidden in some corners of his home.”

The coup makers have cited massive corruption by Thaksin and his circle of cronies, as well as abuse of power, as major justifications for their bloodless Sept. 19 coup. They have set up several anti-graft bodies to investigate alleged wrongdoing by the fallen government.

“Thai people are not easy to please,” Sonthi was quoted as saying, adding that there were those who wanted a swift, ruthless probe while others have called for a fair, transparent — and possibly prolonged — investigation in accordance with civil rights standards.

“We have tried to abide by the law and take all parties’ concerns into consideration,” Sonthi said in the interview.

He said Thaksin’s immense wealth was enough to fund a political comeback and that the fallen leader would not give up easily, The Nation reported.

It said Sonthi cited lingering “undercurrents” as reasons why martial law had not yet been lifted.

“We know who they are and what they are up to,” he reportedly said of Thaksin loyalists seeking a return to power. “Our strategy is to make (his) money worthless and turn our lesser foes into our friends.”

“For those people who used to have so much and lose it so swiftly, it’s hard to come to terms with that, and they may do everything necessary to get it back,” he was quoted as saying.

Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon turned politician, came to power in 2001 after an election victory by his Thai Rak Thai party.

He gained widespread support among the rural poor through his populist policies, but increasingly alienated the urban middle class and elite by eroding democratic institutions, clamping down on press freedom and enriching his friends and family members.