Thaksin: Thailand's credibility at stake
01/23/2007
BY ATSUSHI YAMADA, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted as Thailand's prime minister in a military coup last September, said Monday it is essential for Thailand to regain international trust by showing it is a proper democracy.
"The respect of the rule of law and the justice system (by international society)" is at stake, he said. "What international society worries about is that if the government under a coup d'etat abolishes the Constitution, the rule of law will not be observed."
Thaksin told The Asahi Shimbun in an interview in Tokyo that he hoped he will not have to live in exile much longer. He said he could play a "useful" role in restoring unity and international trust in Thailand.
Thaksin, who has been living in Beijing and London since September, said the bloodless coup had damaged his country's standing with the international community and that Thais, along with foreign investors, would not tolerate a military regime over the long term.
"I am waiting for the situation to go back to normal, because I want to urge the military government to restore unity to the Thai people," he said.
"I think I can be useful for the country. I can tell my supporters, 'OK, it's time that we should unite.'
"Thailand is still a good place to work and make money. This is what I would tell the investors, foreign governments and the private sector," he said.
The coup occurred while Thaksin was visiting New York. He has not been allowed to return.
Since he arrived in Japan last Friday, Thaksin has been looking up acquaintances in Japanese political and business circles.
While he has refrained from making political statements, Thaksin said he felt compelled to make it clear that he was in no way involved in a terrorist bombing in Bangkok on New Year's Eve.
Thaksin said the September coup was notable in that it resulted in a populist leader being toppled from power.
This, he said, highly damaged the country's credibility in the international community.
"Thais have enjoyed democracy and never want to be under a dictatorship or a non-democratic government," he said. "But they can be patient and tolerate such things to some extent, but not for too long."
If the military junta postpones holding general elections, public and foreign investors will likely shy away from Thailand, he warned.
Thaksin likened the military leaders to bureaucrats, saying they do not have the mind-set to catch up with intensifying global competition.
Thaksin said he would seek assurances that he will be safe if he is allowed to return. He insisted that he has no intention of going back into domestic politics.
He added that he is willing to let younger members of his Thai Rak Thai Party lead the country.(IHT/Asahi: January 23,2007)
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