Many have been surprised by his silence since his return. This does not sound like the Thaksin of old.

Last week, Streetwise questioned why Thaksin was visiting only five countries. Was it to do with their interest in mass-transit projects?

However, an anonymous letter arrived asking if that were so, why did Thaksin not also visit Germany, Siemens having announced a desire to join the mass-transit bidding? Surely Berlin would want to be kept informed about the political mess here. It's a fair point. In the writer's opinion, the reason Germany was not on the tour is that it is not a permanent UN Security Council member.

"All the countries involved are permanent members in the UN Security Council and for 2006 Japan is one of 10 elected. Only the US is missing from this trip.Why is the UN Security Council so important? Well, I think Thaksin has to get his deputy Surakiart Sathirathai into the UN secretary-general position in November and then he can find some important job for himself at the UN," wrote the correspondent.

One coincidence is that Singapore formally announced its support for Surakiart after Temasek took over Shin Corp.

Let's toy with the idea Thaksin wants Surakiart to succeed Kofi Annan, so that he can later secure himself a position within the UN. Let's also toy with the idea that Thaksin fears his bad karma. Maybe not about Shin, but the killings during the anti-drugs campaign. With no formal position, he would be vulnerable to court charges. He'd need an official cover then.

Could his ideal cover be the chief of the UN Human Rights Commission? It makes sense if you remember the death of former Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic. Lacking the right cover, he was prosecuted for his brutality and recently died alone in prison.

And that's a tragic a fate to bear, for any leader.

Top-level advice

Goanpot Asvinvichit, director-general of the Government Savings Bank, has held many positions, but none could be more prestigious than one at the United Nations. He is one of 24 leaders who have been offered an appointment as grassroots economic adviser. Despite fears the GSB may suffer from over-lending to the poor under his leadership, his performance has been warmly recognised overseas.

achara_d@nationgroup.com