Former Prime Minister Plans Return

[TotallyOz]

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Tuesday he is willing to return to Thailand and act as an adviser to allies leading the political party that won the country's first elections since his ouster in a 2006 military coup.

 

But Thaksin, who is legally barred from office, insisted that he will not otherwise resume his political career. Speaking in Hong Kong, Thaksin said he will ''explore options'' for a return sometime between mid-February and April.

 

''I really want to go back as a normal citizen. Enough is enough for politics,'' said Thaksin, who was abroad during the Sept. 19, 2006, coup, has since lived in exile, mostly in London.

 

However, he said he would be willing to advise the People's Power Party -- led by members of Thaksin's now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai party -- if asked.

 

The PPP won Sunday's election in Thailand on a campaign pledge to bring back Thaksin, who besides being barred from office also faces corruption-related charges. Thaksin made his comments as the PPP maneuvered to forge a coalition government after securing nearly half of the seats in the lower house of parliament.

 

The PPP victory sent a powerful message that Thaksin's mostly rural supporters would be happy to see him return, despite his alleged corruption and abuse of power. But less happy about his return would be those who deposed him: the military, Bangkok's educated middle class and the country's elite, including elements associated with the country's monarchy.

 

All had felt threatened by Thaksin's accumulation of power, attained through an unprecedented absolute majority in the country's parliament.

 

Releasing the full results of Sunday's election, the Election Commission said Tuesday that the PPP won 233 of the 480 seats in the lower house of parliament, with its top rival Democrat Party capturing 165 and Chart Thai gaining 37.

 

However, the results may change since some victors may be disqualified after the commission finishes investigations into alleged electoral violations.

 

The commission said 74.45 percent of the 45 million eligible voters cast ballots -- a record in Thai political history.

 

The Asian Network for Free Elections, or ANFREL, an Asian election watchdog, said Tuesday that pre-election vote-buying was ''pervasive'' and that the military coerced voters in some instances.

 

Rumors have swirled that the military might carry out a new coup if faced with the prospect of a Thaksin comeback. The army commander has promised to abide by the election results, but Thaksin's return, amid the electoral victory of his political allies, could undo his foes' efforts to discredit him and put their own positions in jeopardy.

 

Under the interim military-installed government that succeeded Thaksin, his opponents changed the constitution to limit big parties' influence and sought to demonize him as a corrupt destroyer of democracy.

 

The results showed Thaksin's foes had failed to win over his followers in the sprawling, rural north and northeast. They remain loyal because of Thaksin's populist programs like universal health care and village development funds, when he held office in 2001-06.

 

The PPP is in the best position to form a new governing coalition, but it faces a sharp challenge from the Democrat Party.

 

PPP Secretary-General Surapong Suebwonglee said his party had won the agreement of enough other smaller parties to form a majority coalition.

 

There would be ''no problem in forming a government'' with 280 to 300 seats, Surapong said at a news conference Monday. Parliament's lower house is supposed to convene within a month of the election.

 

Surapong said he will reveal his would-be partners' names only after Jan. 3, when the Election Commission is expected to certify the voting results.

 

His statement drew skepticism from Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thueksuban, who said the PPP's claim would only be credible if all the involved party leaders announce it publicly and jointly.

 

At a press conference, ANFREL said that vote-buying was practiced by several political parties and included in-kind gifts, cash handouts, electronic transfer of money, payment to attend party rallies and free sightseeing trips.

 

''Money politics remains pervasive,'' said ANFREL official Damaso Magbual.

 

''Though martial law has not been applied in a heavy handed way as in Pakistan, its presence is inconsistent with international norms,'' he said. In the northern province of Chiang Rai, Magbual said the watchdog's observers received credible information that the army coerced its own soldiers and intimidated PPP supporters.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-T...nyt&emc=rss