ID :
37179
Wed, 12/24/2008 - 18:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37179
The shortlink copeid
Ex-premier Thaksin not returning to Thailand on Christmas
Ex-premier Thaksin not returning to Thailand on Christmas
BANGKOK, Dec 24 (TNA) - Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is not planning to return Thailand on Thursday from his self-imposed exile, his personal spokesman Pongthep Thepkarnchana said Wednesday.
Press reports which said that Mr. Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, planned to return home on Christmas Day, December 25, were groundless because the former prime minister had never sent any signal that he would come back at this time, Mr. Pongthep explained.
Mr. Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in London, since August to avoid a jail sentence for corruption in Thailand, but the British government last month cancelled his visa and his present whereabouts are not known.
Mr. Pongthep said he had spoken with Mr. Thaksin by telephone when the convicted ex-premier was in Indonesia earlier this month, but the conversation did not focus on the formation of the Democrat-led coalition government.
However, Mr. Pongthep said he felt that the present government has adopted most of the policies from those initiated by the now court-ruled defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, formerly led by Mr. Thaksin. This showed that those policies benefit the people.
Saying that the government should accelerate on solving national economic problem, social divisions and continuing violence in the deep South, Mr. Pongthep said he believes that the ruling Democrat Party is facing an internal problem as some of its MPs are not happy with the formation of the cabinet and this may affect the government's stability.
For example, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya had earlier joined anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and delivered speeches, he said, adding that this would be difficult to cleanse the image of the current administration. (TNA)
BANGKOK, Dec 24 (TNA) - Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is not planning to return Thailand on Thursday from his self-imposed exile, his personal spokesman Pongthep Thepkarnchana said Wednesday.
Press reports which said that Mr. Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, planned to return home on Christmas Day, December 25, were groundless because the former prime minister had never sent any signal that he would come back at this time, Mr. Pongthep explained.
Mr. Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in London, since August to avoid a jail sentence for corruption in Thailand, but the British government last month cancelled his visa and his present whereabouts are not known.
Mr. Pongthep said he had spoken with Mr. Thaksin by telephone when the convicted ex-premier was in Indonesia earlier this month, but the conversation did not focus on the formation of the Democrat-led coalition government.
However, Mr. Pongthep said he felt that the present government has adopted most of the policies from those initiated by the now court-ruled defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, formerly led by Mr. Thaksin. This showed that those policies benefit the people.
Saying that the government should accelerate on solving national economic problem, social divisions and continuing violence in the deep South, Mr. Pongthep said he believes that the ruling Democrat Party is facing an internal problem as some of its MPs are not happy with the formation of the cabinet and this may affect the government's stability.
For example, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya had earlier joined anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and delivered speeches, he said, adding that this would be difficult to cleanse the image of the current administration. (TNA)
