Thaksin wish to return

[Mentors]

THE NATION

 

Govt warns Thaksin not to return yet

 

Defence minister says he should wait till martial law is lifted; but many ministers fear national unity could be jeopardised

 

Deposed leader Thaksin Shina-watra, who has made it known that he wishes to return to Thailand from virtual exile in London, has been asked by those who overthrew him to be patient and wait until the political climate becomes more stable.

 

Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtat said the best time for Thaksin to return is when martial law has been lifted, "which shouldn't be too long from now".

 

Suriyasai Katasila, a key member of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which held street protests against Thaksin, also warned that the national divide could be widened leading to a dangerous point if Thaksin returned today.

 

Prime Minister Surayud Chula-nont said on Saturday that Thaksin had made a telephone call to him asking about the possibility of returning home.

 

Surayud said that Thaksin was told that the new administrators needed to take many factors into consideration and discuss his request.

 

Surayud yesterday avoided giving a definite answer to Thaksin's request. He said people in charge would meet tomorrow to discuss the status of martial law. "Let me address international questions first and tackle local ones later," he said.

 

"My Cabinet will discuss the state of martial law on October 17. After that, we will inform local and foreign media about how we can accommodate their calls for public rights and liberty."

 

The coup leaders, who booted Thaksin out on September 19 when he was attending a UN assembly in New York, have ordered an investigation into alleged corruption within the Thaksin regime. But the former prime minister has not yet been formally charged.

 

Surayud said that as a Thai citizen, Thaksin could return, but he should do so at an "appropriate" time.

 

Thaksin's request coincided with his embattled Thai Rak Thai Party's attempt to stage a caucus to elect a new leader, despite the coup leaders ban on political gatherings.

 

The party, whose panic-stricken former MPs resigned en masse, is planning to petition the Election Commission for permission to hold a general assembly within 45 days.

 

While the coup leaders and the interim government have not directly turned down Thaksin's request, they seem to be giving a virtual "No", said some observers.

 

"It shouldn't be too long before martial law is lifted," said Boonrawd. "I guess he should wait until then if he wants to come home."

 

One of the darkest chapters in Thai history concerns another ousted prime minister whose return caused much strife, said political analysts.

 

The return of exiled leader Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn in 1976 triggered angry protests among student activists who had staged the uprising that ousted him three years earlier.

 

The protests against Thanom became a catalyst for a brutal crackdown on the student movement by the ultra-right, culminating in the massacre of students at Thammasat University on October 6, 1976.

 

Some fear that Thaksin's strong grassroots support could destabilise the situation.

 

Boonrawd warned that a prompt return could trigger "undercurrents" that could again divide the country.

 

"In principle, it's the right of any Thai citizen to leave the country and return home any time they want. And the same goes for the former prime minister," said Boonrawd.

 

"But he should also consider whether his return now would do his country any good. We should consider whether his return now would trigger the undercurrents and raise tension."

 

 

He said the interim government and the Council for National Security (CNS), where the coup leaders now sit, would discuss and make a decision on the issue.

 

 

"When things become stable, the prime minister can come home. When martial law is lifted, we can consider things have returned to normal," said Boonrawd.

 

Air Force Commander-in-Chief Chalit Pukpasuk, the deputy leader of the CNS, said martial law could be lifted within two months.

 

"I don't know exactly when, but if all parties cooperate to get things back to normal martial law should be lifted within one or two months," he said.

 

"So far we haven't discussed the issue of when the former prime minister should return home. But now that he has made inquiries, it's our duty to provide him with information."

 

Suriyasai asked Thaksin to declare his real motives for the request, and suggested Thaksin should wait until the probe into alleged corruption was completed.

 

"He needs to clarify on what status does he intend to return. He's a virtual political defendantâ?¦ the main cause of the September 19 power seizure. Yes, he's a Thai citizen, but the situation in our country today is far from normal," said Suriyasai.

 

"We need to be very careful. Many of his supporters think he's been persecuted. His return could spark rallies. Thaksin can come back, but he should wait for the justice process to work first.

 

There are many rumours and allegations about evidence of corruption being destroyed, His return could fuel more doubts and serves no good."

 

 

--- seems that some people in uniform getting nervous in the follow days.

[WorldFun]

very strange this

[Mentors]

strange? please wait for the election 2007...

[Flashermac]

Be suspicious if Thaksin returns as a monk!

 

 

[MaiLuk]

Bad boys discussing the coup

 

He wants to return because he misses his favorite thai soap. And wants to become the thai version of Sun Yuu Kii locked up in his house.

 

Ok somebody help out and lock this thread...

[Flashermac]

CRICK!

[Torneyboy]

very strange this

 

Weird indeed

 

[OCgringo]

its all for "face"

 

He wants to return , yeah sure , now that they are looking into his finances ?

 

Sounds good in the press , but if there is any chance that he would be arrested for corruption you can be sure he will be staying in London.

 

OC

[hooper]

Bangkok Remand have room.Untill the elections are done and any ivestingations finished.

[Mentors]

BANKOK POST Today:

 

Classmates of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday affirmed he has expressed a wish to return to Thailand on the eve of a cabinet meeting that will begin discussing the possibility of lifting martial law.

 

According to an army source, Mr Thaksin has kept in touch with members of Class 10 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School by telephone since he was ousted by the coup on Sept 19.

 

In the conversations, he made clear that he wanted to come back when the situation in the country was calm, the source added.

"He expressed regret for what has happened. He asked for at least a month to evaluate his past performance, to see what mistakes he made to lead people to demand his resignation," said a Class 10 source.

 

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont over the weekend said Mr Thaksin is entitled to return but at the right time.

Both he and Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas have stressed the need for martial law to be lifted first. Gen Surayud said the issue of lifting martial law would be discussed at today's cabinet meeting.

The army source said Mr Thaksin's classmates shared the opinion that he should return only after martial law is lifted, since undercurrents still posed obstacles.

 

But the classmates felt that Mr Thaksin was entitled to return to his homeland, and did not believe his homecoming would throw the country into chaos.

Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who led the coup and has become chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), said military intelligence officers had kept an eye on political undercurrents.

 

Gen Sonthi said the cabinet and the CNS would jointly discuss the issue of Mr Thaksin's homecoming.

Gen Winai Phattiyakul, defence permanent secretary, said martial law had not disrupted daily life and was meant to boost security.

 

Also secretary-general to the CNS, Gen Winai said a close watch is being kept on supporters of the deposed prime minister in the provinces.

Informal contact has been established with some key figures willing to cooperate with the interim government, he said.

 

"I am confident that Mr Thaksin is able to assess the situation well. For the sake of peace and order, he should return after martial law is lifted," Gen Winai said.

Gen Boonsang Niampradit, the supreme commander, countered an allegation that the military wanted to retain power through martial law.

 

He said the military felt ill at ease enforcing it but thought it necessary .

Chaturon Chaisaeng, caretaker leader of Thai Rak Thai, said the party will not politicise the issue of Mr Thaksin's homecoming.

 

Mr Chaturon said he would not encourage sympathisers to stage any show of force in support of the party or against its opponents.

Problems would be solved through reason and via peaceful means, he added.

 

Mr Chaturon said Thai Rak Thai's need to select new executive members was not enough reason to ask for the lifting of martial law, which bans political gatherings.

But he said the party could ask the Election Commission what it could do within the bounds of martial law.

 

He said he would ask other caretaker executive members and party members to help monitor the new government, the National Legislative Assembly and the soon-to-be-formed Constitution Drafting Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Constitution Tribunal at its first meeting yesterday agreed to discuss criteria for accepting cases.

 

Paiboon Varahapaitoon, secretary-general of the office of the defunct Constitution Court's secretary-general, said the Constitution Tribunal had yet to consider complaints demanding the dissolution of political parties accused of involvement in electoral fraud.

 

The accused parties have submitted their statements to counter the charges, Mr Paiboon said, adding that there are currently 31 cases where the tribunal's decision is pending.

 

The Constitution Tribunal will set the number of its quorum tomorrow. It has decided to meet twice a week _ on Tuesday and Thursday.

 

---

i will not surprised if they do "to draw the curtain over a thing" soon.