The Return of Thaksin

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As many of you know, the news dominating the headlines in Thailand at the moment is that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has returned to Thailand. He vows to stay out of politics. Good or bad, he is back in Thailand.

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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THAKSIN'S BOISTEROUS HOMECOMING

 

"I definitely stay out of politics" : Thaksin

 

Published on February 28, 2008

 

Our Political Desk will be with you until Thaksin Shinawatra goes to bed in Thailand for the first time since September, 2006. He must be feeling very strange. We are.

 

2:19 pm: Thaksin starts speaking at his press conference.

 

During the conference, he vows to stay out of politics and apologised to the people for their hardship caused by his involvement in the political conflict.

 

"I and my family have suffered from injustice but this can not be compared to the hardship befallen the people who are the worst victims of political rivalry," he says.

 

Thaksin says it is normal for politicians to having ties with him as this is part of Thai culture but should not be construed as his political comeback.

 

He wants to return to his homeland since September 20, a day after the power seizure but he was asked by coup leaders to stay in exil for a while. This happened to last almost 18 months, he says.

 

Following the restoration of democratic rule, he says he is obliged to come back to defend his tarnished reputation and that of his family.

 

He says he is saddened by injustice, vowing to rebut his graft charges and prove his innocence.

 

2.10pm : Thaksin arrives at the Penninsula Hotel to hold press conference.

 

12.30pm : Thaksin holds a closed door meeting with his aides at his Chan Song La residence before attending the press conference which has been rescheduled from 1 pm to 2.30 pm.

 

He is slated to stay at Peninsula Hotel for safety reason. He has booked 11 rooms on Floor 33 to 35, costing Bt106.000 per room per day.

 

12.10pm : Thaksin emerged smiling from the Office of the Attorney General following the completion of his successful bail review. He was granted temporary release on the SC Asset case.

 

Thaksin is travelling to the Peninsula Hotel for a scheduled press conference at 1 pm.

 

11.55am : Thaksin was seen arriving at the Office of the Attorney General.

 

Department of Special Investigation acting director general Thawee Sodsong was on hand to notify his charges relating to the SC Asset case.

 

After notifyin his charges, Thawee would hand over Thaksin to the custody of public prosecutors. Thaksin is then expected to submit his bail application.

 

The Nation

 

11.53am : Thaksin stopped by at the headquarters of the Crime Suppression Division at 11.00 am on his way for bail review at the Office of the Attorney General.

 

He was accompanied by Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung and three children, Panthongtae, Paethongtan and Pinthongta.

 

He reportedly had a brief rest before his scheduled appointment with public prosecutors.

 

He resumes his journey at 11.40 am.

 

11.50am : Chiang Mai authorities are in full gear to welcome native son Thaksin Shinawatra who might return to his hometown to greet supporters on Friday.

 

Thousands of supporters have already started rallying on Thursday ahead of Thaksin's anticipated return.

 

11.50am : Thaksin leaves the court house after the Court grants him a Bt8-million bail.

 

10.40am : Thaksin's lawyer Pichit Chuenban is applying for Thaksin's bail upon his client's arrival at the Supreme Court building for bail review.

 

Thaksin Shinwatra is expected to apply for his temporary release before noon. His youngest daughter Pinthongta is slated to act as bondswoman.

 

During the review, Thaksin would be held in the court's custody at a defence room. The bail process should take about one hour.

 

10.30am : Thaksin arrives at the Supreme Court where he will learn of the charges and request to be released on bail.

 

10.20 am: TPBS reported that Chiang Mai residents who gathered to watch the moment on TV were in tears.

 

One TPBS announcer reminds the audience that the touching moments aside, Thaksin now will "walk straight into reality" _ the fight against corruption charges to prove himself.

 

10.10 am: Thaksin has come out of the VIP room to greet his supporters with a humble Thai "wai". It takes less than. It's very low-key by anyone's standard. It seems to be a well thought-out way of greeting, if there's nothing more, that is. But it seems he will not come back out.

 

Meanwhile, additional TV footage just showed that once he got off the VIP room, he prostrated on the ground to pay utmost respect to the motherland. Then he "wai" his supporters and waved at them. The whole scenario from leaving the VIP room and greeting the crowds lasted less than five minutes.

 

Tears were brimming in his eyes. TV stations are rerunning the ground-worshipping moment.

 

9.50 am: He has entered VIP room number 3 at the airport. TPBS reports that he would soon spend around 15 minutes greeting his supporters before heading to the Supreme Court.

 

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama are among senior government figures to greet him.

 

Thaksin spent about half an hour with his family members inside the airport's VIP Room No 3.

 

His wife Khunying Pojaman and their daughter Paethongtan were waiting to welcome him. His son Panthongtae accompanied him on the flight back from Hong Kong.

 

His youngest daughter Pinthongta was at the court building to arrange for bail review.

 

After greeting his family members, Thaksin met with a senior monk from Chiang Mai, his hometown. Phra Khru Suthep Sitthikhun of Wat Sribunruang presented him with a wooden Buddha statuette.

 

Afterward, he talked to his close allies, including Sudarat Keyuraphan, Chidchai Vanastidya, Phrommin Lertsuridej, Pongthep Thepkanchan and his cousin and former Army chief General Chaisit Shinawatra.

 

Five Cabinet members were also present. They are Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Transport Minister Santi Prompat, his deputy Songsak Thongsri and PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair.

 

9.40 am: Thaksin has landed.

 

9.30 am: TV Channel 9 ends a news break with local singer Christina's popular oldie: "My Heart Asks for It". Coupled with old Thaksin footages, it must be very touching for Thaksin's supporters. As for the other camp, yes, it can be one looooong day.

 

9.20am : Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung says he would personally escort former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Suvarnabhumit Airport to the Supreme Court building for bail review.

 

Chalerm was confident that there would be no eruption of violence, playing down concern about possible assassination attempt.

 

"I don't think there will any assassination like what happened abroad and I trust in the security system and officials responsible for implementation," he said.

 

He said Thaksin would stay at the Peninsula Hotel instead of his Chan Song La residence which is undergoing a renovation.

 

9.10 am: Hundreds of taxi motorcyclists, who had gathered on Lard Prao Road, were allowed to go through security the Suvarnabhumi Airport to join around 3,000 of waiting Thaksin supporters.

 

There are all kinds of welcome-home banners carried by the supporters. One stands out: "Real Gem is Coming Home."

 

7 am (Bkk time): Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has boarded a Thai Airways plane in Hong Kong to return to Bangkok for the first time in 17 months after he was toppled.

 

He insisted again he was going home to defend himself against unfair accusations and would stay out of politics. Lots of flowers from Thais at the airport, but that is nothing compared to what awaits him at the Thai international airport.

 

Thaksin told reporters that he was confident of his innocence and was ready to prove he had done nothing wrong. He said he would report to the authorities on his arrival.

 

He is dressed in black suit with black tie.

 

Another man in the focus, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, said he welcomed Thaksin's return. But what else could he have said, honestly?

 

"It's normal that he must defend himself in the court and my government will not interfere," Samak said.

 

Best quote so far is from Thaksin: "Democracy returned to Thailand. So, it is time for those who are democratic advocates to go back."

 

The first thing he wishes to do is to hug his wife and children.

 

Good morning everyone. It can be another long day for Thai politics, but we have gone through many, have we?