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Thailand, Thaksin have another dance

(TNA) – Polls in Thailand indicate that the Thai public is wearying of military rule, says Time magazine, and with government missteps relating to capital controls and the Foreign Business Act, according to the news magazine, the Council for National Security "is looking less than bullet-proof."

In a cover story which may serve to give the exiled former prime minister more positive international media attention than he ever received when he was in office, the Asian edition of Time magazine hs given Thaksin Shinawatra five pages of coverage in its Feb 12 issue, which hit newsstands in Bangkok on Friday.

"Staying Power," was the headline. The report was introduced with a cover text "Thaksin Shinawatra just wants to take it easy. But even in exile, Thailand's deposed leader still looms over his country's political landscape."

The lead article opened humourously. "My new party will be called the Enjoy Life Party," Time quoted Mr Thaksin as saying in Tokyo on Jan 25 – almost in the same breath as "I'm calling it quits".

Describing his new party's platform as "Playing golf, travelling, relaxing, meeting friends," (Time said Mr Thaksin was joking), "Don't be too serious about life," Time further quotes the deposed leader as saying.

Describing the ex-leader as a 57-year-old billionaire, surrounded by doting aides "who still call him 'Your Excellency,'" ex-PM Thaksin is not convincing as a retiree.

Mr Thaksin's shadow "is enough to cause jitters among Thailand's ruling junta," Time states.

The exile himself says that "Poor people are not important for the new government," and "if general elections were held today, Thaksin might very well win, courtesy of a silent majority rising up from their paddies and mountain villages."

"Thailand's unelected generals fear the spectre of the exiled leader," according to the Time assessment.

Quoting Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram, Time says that the Thai government is concerned that Mr Thaksin, despite his loud disclaimer, "is not about to call it quits."

"There was hardly any public outcry against the coup," commented Time Southeast Asia Bureau Chief Hannah Beech. Mr Thaksin commented that the Thai people "are very disciplined. They are watching what [the new rulers] are doing, and when they will return democracy to the people. People's tolerance is limited," the ex-premier warned.

Time says that the CNS is probing "52 cases of possible corruption or abuse of power" during Mr Thaksin's premiership and may bring charges by the end of this month. Of course, Mr Thaksin said he didn't do any of it and, "At any rate, corruption will not go away in Thailand—it's in the system."

Alleged human-rights abuses, such as over 2,000 deaths in three months of Mr Thaksin's 2003 war on drugs, "made many wonder whether the former police lieutenant-colonel had taken the law into his own hands."

Last month the late Saddam Hussein was hanged for crimes against humanity in relation to 149 persons alleged to have died from the Iraqi dictator's abuse of power and of human rights.

But, says Time, as Thailand's interim government "stumbles along, Mr Thaksin seems content to adopt the role of happy retiree." He tells stories of sweet-talking "Thai massage therapists" working in his building in the Chinese capital for the necessary spices so he can cook omelettes and tom yum koong with real Thai taste.

Is Mr Thaksin coming back?

"Thaksin and Thailand are not done with each other yet," Time concludes. It's not over until it's over.

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Govt and CNS to discuss Thaksin's fate

(Bangkokpost.com)

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could face legal charges as the result of his interviews with foreign media, the military backed prime minister claimed on Saturday.

"The government and the Council for National Security are going to discuss whether Mr Thaksin has committed any kind of wrongdoing," said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. He did not elaborate.

In the past two weeks, Mr Thaksin has given a number interviews with foreign media, attacking the government and the CNS. He also has championed his populist policies -- known derisively by his critics as Thaksinomics -- while discrediting the sufficiency philosophy initiated by His Majesty the King.

Gen Surayud, however, said he was not concerned about what the Thai people would think about the government and the CNS after hearing or reading Thaksin's interviews. He said people living in Thailand understand this well.

On creating better understanding between the government and foreign countries, Gen Surayud said the government has already assigned the Foreign Ministry to be in charge of this matter.

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General scorns Thaksin reconciliation

(Bangkokpost.com)

There is no need for the government to try to reconcile with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said Saturday.

Mr Thaksin has continued to use the word "reconciliation" in foreign media intereviews, but what he has done was the contrary, said Gen Boonrawd. He said Mr Thaksin has continually attacked the government and the Council for National Security in all of his interviews with foreign media.

Gen Boonrawd said the government has spent the past four months on the defensive, but it would, from now on, take on an active role.

Earlier today, Gen Boonrawd said in a speech on the Veterans Day that Thailand was currently threatened by ill-intentioned people and capitalism, causing foreigners to look at the country in a negative light.

He urged the veterans to use His Majesty the King's sufficiency principles in living a daily life and to set themselves as good examples for the people.