Thaksin pledges an oath of royalist

"Thaksin swore an oath before the sacredness and Phra Siam Thewathirat (the country's guardian angel) pledging his undying loyalty to the monarchy and willing to have his family condemned if he went back on his word," Noppadon said from the statement.

He said Thaksin devoted a major portion of his statement to rebut the allegation that he was not a royalist.

In regard to speculation that Thaksin was the puppet master behind the forming of the next government, he said People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej was in charge of the matter as Thaksin was abroad and had no involvement in politics due to his fiveyear ban.

He said Thaksin's decision to return to his homeland would not waver because of the Thursday's assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi.

"Thaksin is still determined to clear his charges in accordance with the judicial proceedings," he said, ruling out the concern for safety on grounds that the Thai situation differed from that prevailing in Pakistan.

Thaksin's statement is seen as a reaction to the fivepoint demand by the two parties, Chart Thai and Puea Pandin, as a precondition to join the People Powerled coalition.

The five preconditions are the reverence of the monarchy; the refrain from disrespecting General Prem Tinsulanonda, present of the Privy Council and elder statesman; no reprisals; Thaksin's return to face due process and no meddling with the work of the Assets Examination Committee.

The Nation