Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, 57, yesterday stepped forward to portray "those you-know-whos" as old and senile leaders.

"Some senior people are out of sync with the world even before getting old and becoming senile with advancing age," he said.

Thaksin's statement is seen as a retort to the verbal attacks on his leadership by Anand Panyarachun, 74, and General Prem Tinsulanonda, 86, on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

With government officials as his audience, Thaksin made a speech on the theme of changes laced with veiled messages at his critics.

Contrary to popular expectations, the ideological struggle persists even after the Cold War, he said. Forces of globalisation and capitalism are being opposed by the sceptics of state power.

"These sceptics are like anarchists fighting a strong government. Some even go so far as to attack the government's approach to adopt capitalism to help the grass-roots people," he said.

He floated ideas expounded by thinkers like Edward de Bono and Alvin Toffler to back up his views.

"Toffler is an old man but he keeps pace with change, unlike certain senior people," he said,  making a thinly veiled reference to Anand and Prem.

Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai party executive Adisorn Piangket slammed Prem and Anand for taking sides with the anti-Thaksin movements.

He said Prem, as privy council president, should stick to the role defined by the Constitution.

Adisorn blamed Anand for attempting to divide society with his verbal attack on Thaksin.

"Anand assumed the prime ministership twice under dictatorial rule, not democratic rule," he said. "Thaksin is an elected PM, so Anand should respect the incumbent premier," he said.

Caretaker Senator Sopon Supapong said Prem would not have spoken out had the present crisis not been so severe. As long as Thaksin stayed in the office, peace would be impossible, he said.

Panya Thiewsangwan,

Sathian Wiriyapanpongsa

The Nation