Thaksin wants slate to be wiped clean if he is to return home
Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon reads out a statement yesterday calling for the government to go on the offensive against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
|
|
|
Thaksin Shinawatra's legal adviser said that if the former prime minister returned to Thailand, he would seek a meeting with the government and Council for National Security so that he would not be forced to pay for "his old debts".
Noppadon Pattama was speaking after Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Saturday that Thaksin could return home if he promised to cease all political activities. He denied that Thaksin hired US-based lobbying company Barbour, Griffith & Rogers (BGR) to counter the government. He said Thaksin just wanted the company to check information disseminated overseas about the situation after the September 19 coup. "He certainly did not hire this company to fight against the government because this company does not fight against any government and does not side with any government," Noppadon said. He denied that BGR contacted CNN to interview Thaksin in Singapore on January 15, saying that CNN contacted him to ask Thaksin for an interview. He said Thaksin will give interviews in Japan to three or four media and will talk about Thailand in a positive light. Noppadon declined to clarify what Thaksin meant when he told CNN that if the government wanted reconciliation, it must issue an amnesty. After his stay in Japan, Thaksin will go to China, other Asian countries and the Middle East to meet friends and have a vacation, he added. Noppadon defended himself against media comments that he was not loyal to the monarchy even though he received a royal scholarship to study abroad. "I am loyal to every royal member but I am a lawyer and I give legal advice," he said. Democrat Party spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon yesterday suggested that the government go on the offensive to deal with the problems regarding Thaksin. He said Thaksin was declaring psychological war to discredit the government. "The government must come up with a strategy and plan to solve the problem efficiently and systematically," he said. Democrat Party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr said there were irregularities regarding Thaksin hiring the lobbying company. He said BGR did not reveal that Thaksin was its client and did not indicate the objective of his hiring as required by law. "I suspect that Thaksin hired the company through a proxy and the company has been lobbying the government, Congress and the US media so that Thaksin can return to Thailand," he said. Alongkorn said he will launch his new book about alleged corruption in 34 projects during the Thaksin government at the end of the month.
|
