Activists reverse, oppose return of Thaksin
-Bangkok Post
The group that staged huge street demonstrations before the military stepped in and overthrew Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra resurrected itself on Monday and threatened to start the protests again. The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) suddenly on Monday morning turned against the return to Thailand by Mr Thaksin for any reason.
Leaders of the group, including newspaper tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul and Buddhist sect activist Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, said at a special meeting to the current government was acting in the interests of “the Thaksin regime,” and PAD instead to step up protests.
In a seven-point statement, PAD resolved “to oppose the return of Thaksin” and threatened to return to the street protests if, as likely, the ex-premier comes back to Thailand. “The PAD has never opposed the return of Mr Thaksin if the former premier comes back to fight corruption charges in court, without interference from the current government,” said the statement. “But since the Taksin regime has interfered in the justice system, the PAD now must oppose Mr Thaksin’s return.” The statement called on “the people, civil servants, the military, police who love the country” to be ready to restart street protests which drew up to half a million people during the summer of 2006.
Mr Sondhi, the founder of the anti-Thaksin movement in September, 2005, said the new “Thaksin regime” was “the ugliest government in history.” The publisher of Manager Group said he and supporters did not wish to act against Mr Thaksin if he wished to return to Thailand to prove his innocence in court. “But the PAD will never allow the government to interfere in the justice system,” he vowed. Maj Gen Chamlong said the PAD had to emerge again “because the country now faces a big problem.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said he hoped there would be no problem or unrest when Mr Thaksin returns. All parties, including PAD, should recognise the ex-premier Taksin is a Thai citizen, with the right of return. In addition, it is good if he returns to fight criminal charges in court, said Dr Surapong. No matter what PAD thinks about the government, he said, “No one can interfere with the court and justice procedure.”
PAD’s seven-point statement also called on the Election Commission “to have the courage” to recommend that the ruling People Power party be dissolved for acting as a proxy for the disbanded Thai Rak Thai of Mr Thaksin.
It renewed touchy and controversial calls that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej swear allegiance to nation, religion and King, and “stop acting as a puppet of Mr Taksin” – words almost custom-designed to raise an equally acerbic response from Mr Samak. It also called on the government to stop interfering with the media, to review its decision to remove the chief of the Department of Special Investigations, and to stop alleged interference in the work of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), the Supreme Court, the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Department of Special Investigation and the National Police Bureau.
Activists reverse, oppose return of Thaksin
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