Thaksin denies he was in discussions
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appears in a good mood as he arrives at Thai Rak Thai Party headquarters yesterday afternoon. In the morning he had met with Russian and Japanese ambassadors at the party’s office on Rajvithee Road.
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Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday denied discussing mega-project investments with Russian and Japanese diplomats, saying the officials visited him yesterday because he plans to visit the two countries.
"I am still in the position [of prime minister]. I'm going to visit their countries, so I'd better tell them. Even if they'd wanted to ask me [about the mega-projects], I couldn't have answered because I have stopped working,'' he replied when asked why diplomats from countries that have expressed interest in investing in the mega-projects called on him at Thai Rak Thai Party headquarters. Asked about the foreign diplomats' views on the Kingdom, Thaksin said they had a good image of the country. "They said Thailand had maintained democracy well - even if we had some political turbulence, everything went according to the Constitution,'' he said. Thaksin denied any knowledge of a report that Snoh Thienthong, the Wan Nam Yen faction leader who quit Thai Rak Thai, had asked some of the party's MPs to join him in establishing a new political party. "I have no idea. This country is highly democratic,'' Thaksin said. Asked what he thought of the protest outside the Election Commission's office in Songkhla on Sunday that prevented candidates from small parties from registering for the April 23 by-election, Thaksin said people who love democracy should nurture it, not destroy it. Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai Party spokesman Sita Divari yesterday denied that the party was set to discuss the selection of the next prime minister, saying it was too soon for such talks because the election has not been finalised. Somchai Sunthornwat, who chairs the Thai Rak Thai Party's meetings, said the party would pick the most suitable person. "Don't worry - we have qualified people. When we announce the name, there will be no negative comments,'' he said. Asked if Thaksin was at odds with the party over the choice of the next premier, Somchai said Thaksin was not a dictator. "He listens to suggestions,'' Somchai said.
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