A day after the Privy Council president pleaded for all parties in the political crisis to restore peace - which has been labelled a "direct message" to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to make a "major decision" - the caretaker premier insisted yesterday he would wait until after the April 2 election before deciding whether or not to take a break from politics.

"I haven't considered taking a pause," he told reporters at a campaign stop in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday. "But after the election, I might or might not be the prime minister. This is the way of democracy."

Thaksin will continue his "exile trips" to the provinces and may not return to his Government House office until the election, to avoid confronting protesters besieging the compound, reports say.

Anti-government demonstrators who were waiting to meet Thaksin at Government House yesterday were disappointed to learn that he changed his mind about visiting his office in compound.

Instead, Thaksin held the

meeting on organising the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PM's Office Minister Newin Chidchob said Thaksin wanted to avoid a confrontation that could have lead to violence.

Government Spokesman Sura-pong Suebwonglee, however, gave another reason.

He said Thaksin did not want

to cause trouble for Cabinet members and their aides who would have to brave the crowds besieging Government House.

Thaksin's response yesterday to questions about whether he would take a break from politics contradicted statements he made on Wednesday.

Then, he said he was considering "going on a break" but only in the best interests of the country and not under pressure from his opponents.

In response to a proposal that he take his "political pause" after the Constitution is amended, he said it was an irresponsible suggestion.

"Why don't they write in the charter that Thaksin [Shinawatra] is not allowed to enter politics?" he said. "Some people would love to see it."

A number of anti-Thaksin groups have called for his resignation as caretaker PM to end the political crisis and pave the way for a royally-sponsored prime minister to oversee charter amendments before an election takes place.

Thaksin has refused to step down.

Thaksin also responded to Privy Council President Prem Tinsula-nonda's plea on Wednesday to take a "step back" for reconciliation.

A source quoted a trusted aide of Prem as saying the statement was a "direct message" to Thaksin to step down.

Thaksin said he had made attempts to reconcile with his critics during recent weeks.

"I've already made several steps back," he said. "All sides need to play by the rules. If they do, the crisis will surely end. I myself stick strictly to the rules."

Thaksin has been away from Bangkok during recent weeks, campaigning in the provinces while thousands of people have been besieging Government House to pressure him to quit.

He is said to be "fleeing" the protesters.

He left Nakhon Ratchasima for Bangkok early yesterday morning to chair a government meeting and preside over an education fair.

During the in-bound trip, Thaksin made a stop at Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district to preside over the opening of the "Cowboy Market".

He stopped next at Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district to greet thousands of grass-root supporters from the North and the Northeast who are walking to Bangkok to try to overshadow the anti-Thaksin protestors at Government House.

After chairing the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thaksin spent about an hour after lunch at the Dusit Thani Hotel's Devarana Spa, where he normally gets his hair cut.

Thaksin will campaign today in Kanchanaburi and travel to the North next week.

"I can administer the government over the telephone," Thaksin said in response to questions about how he could run his government while being "in exile" from the capital.

He declined, however, to say whether he intended to keep a distance from his Government House office until the election.

Thaksin last night reportedly changed his regular route to his residence in Soi Charunsanitwong 69, which normally passes Government House, in order to avoid passing the protesters.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Worranaree Kosajan

The Nation