In a new war against his foes, embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is desperately delivering everything he can to ensure that he will be the last man standing at the finale.

While Thaksin struggles to survive calls for his resignation over allegations of challenging royal power, news of an assassination plot against him has somehow arisen.

As Thaksin vows to fight any "unjust" attempts to bar him from running in the next election, no rationale can explain the "assassination plot" other than that it is another attempt by Thaksin to regain his popularity.

Released by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the plot sounds convincing and threatening to the prime minister, who swore he would dedicate his life to protect Thailand's democracy from his opponents, who have failed all the way to defeat him by constitutional means. Thus, they target his life as the solution.

Thaksin yesterday confirmed the number of security agents accompanying him was increased following the NIA's report.

However, Army and police chiefs have treated the news differently. They believe that the plot is just another rumour adding to the current political morass.

Currently, Thaksin faces two controversial issues which he has failed to clarify - an unidentified "charismatic figure" and his letters to foreign leaders.

Three weeks ago, Thaksin accused a "charismatic figure beyond the Constitution" of attempting to topple him by unconstitutional means. He recounted a long campaign of street protests in major cities, which was managed by his foes on behalf of the People's Alliance for Democracy, and a plot to make the April elections illegal after a boycott by the opposition parties.

Anti-government groups called him to disclose the name of the person because they believed he could be challenging Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda - or even His Majesty the King.

While Thaksin kept silent over the person's identity a new front opened. Thaksin's letters to a number of leaders, including US President George W Bush, dated April 17 and June 23, were revealed this week by an anonymous source.

Thaksin claims in the letters he is being targeted in an undemocratic conspiracy, while he accuses his opponents of using various "extra-constitutional tactics" to circumvent the will of the people.

The letters have stirred criticism from his opponents, ranging from a mild "cry baby" label to accusations that he "sold out national sovereignty".

Hence, the assassination plot arose at a time when Thaksin needed something to pull him out of a mess. He has shown in recent months that he is protecting Thailand's 74-year-old democracy by making every effort to make the planned October 15 election possible, although his Thai Rak Thai Party is among five parties under threat of dissolution by the Constitution Court.

Thaksin is sending a message that, with no chance of defeating him through the election, his opponents have turned to a plot to end the life of the defender of Thailand's democracy.

Thaksin is playing a sympathy game for survival. As political tensions between him and his foes are drastically growing after a one-month cease-fire for nationwide celebrations of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne, it won't take long to see whether his "plot" works.

Weerayut Chokchaimadon

The Nation