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Thaksin may return - but not now

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has indicated that the military which staged a coup last September might allow deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra to return home after a permanent government is formed following the general elections later this year.

In a live interview broadcast nationwide on all TV and radio stations, Gen Surayud said there would be some conditions for Mr Thaksin’s return, most importantly his promise to quit politics.

However, that would only be possible after the general elections were successfully held and a new government was in place. Gen Surayud also indicated there was some resistance within the military which might complicate Mr Thaksin’s eventual return.

Moreover, Mr Thaksin himself has failed to convince his critics that he honestly would give up politics as he said on several occasions in interviews with foreign media, given his frequent high-profile media campaign in recent days.

"We have to think about it. If he will really honour his words, that will be acceptable. But we have learned from the past that sometimes he said one thing but did the otherwise. It is not absolutely certain that he will always do what he says," Gen Surayud said during the interview.

When asked if he was irritated by Mr Thaksin’s political movement abroad since his self-imposed exile, the premier said he was not because Mr Thaksin had the right to his opinions and that Thai people would be able to judge by themselves if what Mr Thaksin said was true or not.

He said he accepted critics’ comments that the present government did not execute its stated policies as quickly as the public sometimes expected, but he appealed for their understanding.

"Thai people have their expectation. We cannot work with just our power alone. We have to administrate the country by law. Though I am appointed, I stick to principle not emotion. I have to use reason and not sentiment," Gen Surayud stressed. (TNA)