Thaksin - "I'll Be Back"

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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Thaksin Talks of a Comeback

 

Declares Readiness to Fight for Justice

 

By: AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

Published: 3/02/2009 at 12:00 AM

 

NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Thaksin Shinawatra is in a fighting mood. The former prime minister says he is ready to fight for justice and make a comeback as the country's political leader.

 

The move is a turn-around. Thaksin earlier said he had washed his hands of politics.

 

"I earlier announced that I would wash my hands of politics," Thaksin told members of the opposition Puea Thai party and former MPs of the now dissolved Thai Rak Thai (TRT) on Monday in a phone-in. "But as there are so many politically motivated cases being filed against me, I want to tell you now that I am ready to return to the political arena once again.

 

"If I give up the fight, people who used to benefit from policies initiated by the TRT will be badly hurt."

 

The former prime minister said mounting persecution by his rivals had forced him to change his mind.

 

He also denied allegations he was not loyal to the monarchy. The allegations were "pure nonsense", he said.

 

"I will fight on no matter what happens. I'm ready to be prime minister again if people support me. If people voice their call that they want me, I will come back to carry out my duty [as prime minister]."

 

Thaksin said he would not always remain on the run in other countries and went on to criticise the Democrat party-led government for failing to tackle the country's problems.

 

He urged the opposition party to be patient and wait for its turn to administer the country as public confidence in the present government was eroding.

 

Thaksin's 20-minute phone-in started shortly after politicians loyal to him joined a seminar organised by Puea Thai at a hotel near the Khao Yai national park in Pak Chong district of this provincial gateway to the northeast.

 

The seminar, co-hosted by Thaksin's younger sisters Yaowapa Wongsawat and Yingluck Shinawatra, was attended by banned executives and MPs of the two dissolved parties - TRT and the People Power party (PPP).

 

Former prime minister and PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat, PPP deputy leaders Yongyuth Tiyapairat and Sompong Amornvivat, former PPP secretary-general Noppadon Pattama, former TRT executives Pongthep Thepkanchana and Sermsak Pongpanit were also there.

 

Thaksin, who fled the country in August before being sentenced in October to two years in jail for abuse of power in a land purchase deal, was toppled by a coup on Sept 19, 2006. The coup-appointed Assets Scrutiny Committee froze 76 billion baht worth of his assets.

 

"Please feel at ease that I will not abandon anyone. Be assured that I will stay near you [MPs] to give you support," he told his loyalists.

 

Puea Thai MP for Nong Bua Lamphu Chaiya Promma said the phone-in had helped raise the party's spirits.

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EARLIER REPORT

 

Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday declared his readiness to fight for justice and make a political comeback as prime minister.

 

The convicted former prime minister's made the U-turn during his phone-in speech to members of the opposition Puea Thai party and former politicians of the now dissolved Thai Rak Thai (TRT).

 

He had earlier said that he had washed his hands of politics.

 

"I earlier announced that I will wash my hands of politics. But as there are more political prosecutions against me, I want to tell you now that I am ready to return (to politics) to fight. If I give up the fight, people who used to benefit from policies initiated by TRT will be badly hurt,'' he said.

 

The former prime minter said mounting political prosecution used by his political opponents forced him to change his mind and denied allegations that he was not loyal to the monarchy. The allegations were ''nonsense,'' he said.

 

''I will fight no matter what it will happen,'' he said.

 

''I'm ready to come back to be prime minister again if people support me. If people voice their call that they want me, I will come back to carry out my duty (as prime minister),'' he added.

 

Thaksin vowed that he would not stay in other countries until his last days and criticised the Democrat party-led government for failing to tackle problems in the country.

 

He also called for patience from the opposition party to wait for their turn to come back to administer the country after the failure of the present government which was eroding public confidence.

 

Thaksin's 20-minute phone-in speech started shortly after politicians loyal to him entered a seminar organised by Puea Thai at a hotel near the Khao Yai national park in Pak Chong district of this northeastern province.

 

The seminar, hosted by his younger sisters, Yaowapa Wongsawat and Yingluck Shinawatra, included banned executives and MPs from two dissolved parties -- TRT and People Power party (PPP) such as former prime minister leader Somchai Wongsawat, PPP deputy leaders Yongyuth Tiyapairat and Sompong Amornvivat, former PPP secretary-general Noppadol Pattama, former TRT executives Pongthep Thepkanchana and Sermsak Pongpanit.

 

The former prime minister, who fled the country in August last year and was sentenced to a two-year jail term in October for abuse of power in a land purchase deal, was toppled by a coup on Sept 19. 2006.The coup-appointed Assets Scrutiny Committee ordered a freeze on his assets worth over 76 billion baht.

 

[Guest Astrrro]

Thaksin talks about coming back but unlike pedophiles that have warrants against them, he fllees the country until it's clear that it's safe. Shows he's a smart man. Smart is good. Smart plus greed can make one a billionaire.

 

Not that the old guard oligarchy isn't greedy too. Gordon Gecko says, "greed is good" but I guess it's just human nature. Corruption is more subtle in the West but certainly exists.

 

 

[Guest shebavon]

I think he is doing this because Abhisit is outmaneuvering the former electoral lock Thaksin and co had on Thailand by AB's spoiling of Essan.

 

He won't step on Thai soil if he feels he is in danger of seeing a jail cell, and might find it hard to run for PM while he is on the run.

[PattayaMale]

Didn't General Mac Arther say sort of the same thing? It took him a few years too.

 

But if the government gets through this rough time, they have a good chance of staying in power. But the economy is the key I believe............in every country.