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Thaksin Shinawatra has just officially launched his book, "Thaksin's 24 Hours After the Coup", at the Hong Kong Book Fair 2007, reported Hong Kong's Ming Pao.

The book, cowritten with three Chinese authors, details the events leading up to Thaksin's fall from grace. It tells of his suspicions as he boarded the plane to New York for his United Nations address. He says he underestimated the Army and was surprised that an "upright" person like him would meet such a fate.

Published in Chinese by the News Corporationowned Chinese cabletelevision station Phoenix, the 10,000 firstedition copies of the book will be sold mainly in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, said Thaksin's lawyer Noppadol Pattama.

At the fair, the former premier urged the interim government to work harder to bring peace and stability to the country.

For the first time, Thaksin commented on the Asset Examination Committee's "illegal" measure to freeze his assets. He told Taiwan's China Times that the asset freeze was politically motivated.

Since he was ousted in a military coup, the former Prime Minister was charged with concealment of assets, tax evasion and abuse of power, not least the acquisition of the Rachadapisek land at Bt722 million below the valued and appraised price of Bt2.1 billion.

According to his legal aides, Thaksin is likely to return to Thailand on August 14, primarily to "fight for his reputation". But a source familiar with the litigation said that he would immediately return to London, once he has testified before court.

by Ki Nan Tsui

The Nation