Wait another year: Surayud tells Thaksin
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has told deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra to wait until a democratic government is established to return to Thailand, effectively ending the latter's hope to come back to the country in the near future.
In his most unequivocal remark regarding Thaksin's London exile and his wish to return home, Surayud said: "The best way is for us to get past this problem-solving process. After a year, when we have an election and when a new government is in place, that should be the most appropriate time."The tough stand on Thaksin's future came after the interim leaders clashed with a former powerful ally of Thaksin. Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former prime minister and senior member of the Thaksin regime, has provoked the ire of the coupmakers by criticising their work and suggesting that Thaksin should be allowed to come home and be contained to his residence. Surayud described the "house arrest" idea as "impossible." "That would also be tantamount to restraining him, which is not the way it should be. It would be like what happens in our neighbouring country. I don't think it's a good idea." Thaksin, who has made it known that he wishes to return to Thailand from virtual exile in London, had been asked by those who overthrew him to be patient and wait until the political climate becomes more stable. The "stability" was initially linked by Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtat to the time when the martial law is lifted. But Surayud made it clear that Thaksin would have to wait much longer. "When we have a constitution draft, a public referrendum and then the country is set to have an election, then the negotiations [on Thaksin's return] should be able to begin." Amid persistent rumours about Thaksin's worsening "homesickness", this is seen as a smart move by some political analysts. Having been worried about "undercurrents" _ the term used to described remnants of the Thaksin regime capable of creating political turmoil _ the interim leadership has sent him a subtle yet clear message: Behave and you can come home in a year; Create trouble and it could be a very long wait." Surayud refused to be drawn into the coupmakers' showdown with Chavalit. Asked if he thought Chavalit's criticism of the Council for National Security was motivated by the former prime minister not getting any "reward" for the overthrow of Thaksin, Surayud said: "He hasn't talked to me directly so I don't know." The coupmakers have suggested that Chavalit was not happy that people close to him had not bee appointed to the boards of state enterprises which have been dominated by many senior men in uniform. The Nation
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