Did he say them out of deep appreciation of what he had witnessed together with the whole world - that the Thai people will always maintain an impregnable and unquestionable loyalty to their King, and that nothing can change their minds, even impressive campaign promises by politicians?

Or were they well designed and timed to dilute negative public opinion about his controversial role in recent months, including his flip-flop of promising to stand down from politics but returning to active duty to preserve his power base and self-serving interests?

One thing was clear enough, though: a recent hiss from a Thai Rak Thai underling that there could be nationwide bloodshed if the party were found guilty of criminal offences and dissolved should be regarded as an idle threat.

The political minion must have entertained high hopes that Thaksin's populist policy of goodies and freebies for the poor would forever keep rural grassroots people loyal to Thai Rak Thai and its billionaire CEO, and that they would be willing to sacrifice their lives to preserve the party.

Thai Rak Thai's fate will soon be dictated by the judicial process after allegations that it hired small parties to serve as bogus election contestants, so that its candidates could claim valid victories in southern provinces following the boycott of the polls by the Democrat Party.

In recent weeks Thai Rak Thai foot-soldiers have been openly challenging court proceedings with total disregard for the risk of being held in contempt of court. It was arrogance based on the belief that the power of money could arouse rural grassroots discontent over any kind of negative move, even enforcement of the law, against the party.

But the massive "sea of yellow", or the "yellow phenomenon", on Friday showed that the ultimate loyalty of the rural grassroots and urban people was to the country's highest institution and not any particular politician. Thaksin is no exception.

Still, his "enough for me" utterance does not mean that Thaksin will be willing to give up his political role - or even the premiership for that matter. That would be too easy. The public should never be misled by such talk from the man who has done everything to cling on to power despite the massive rallies and street demonstrations demanding his resignation in recent months.

There was intense scheming and conspiratorial manoeuvring among political elements and their allies to preserve their power at any cost. There was speculation that grassroots people would be incited to counter pro-democracy movements if anti-Thaksin rallies and street demonstrations resume in the next few weeks.

That could lead to the violent confrontations and possible bloodshed hinted at by elements within Thai Rak Thai. The party currently faces legal troubles and Thaksin is also being questioned about the validity of his status following his on-and-off leave of absence before returning to Government House.

The yellow masses, however, must have conveyed the clear message to Thaksin and his crowd that any attempt to instigate a class war to twist legal proceedings and maintain the status quo would not only be high risk, but politically fatal as well. In this regard, Thaksin's "enough for me" utterance might be designed to buy some more time until there is a better alternative strategy.

Political uncertainty will continue in the next few weeks. The resignation of Cabinet secretary-general Borwornsak Uwanno, who entered the monkhood this weekend, was a signal in a way that he smelled trouble and wanted no part of it. Few people believe that a general election, tentatively set for October 15, will take place.

The Election Commission will be bogged down in legal difficulties, with the risk of punishment if proven guilty of abuse of power and neglect of duty. Its credibility and image as an independent agency have long since been shattered by public outcry over its lack of impartiality.

Thaksin will have to prove that he has had enough, as uttered. He could still be swayed by unending ambition for power and wealth and the urging of his cronies that stepping down could lead to a ruinous future because there are people seething and waiting to settle scores with them, not to mention court proceedings for past misdeeds.

If his utterance of "enough" comes from a wholehearted willingness to leave politics, it would be different from being forced to say "enough" after all attempts to stay in power fail.

Sopon Ongkara