Thaksin 'hopes to return to power'
Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would not reveal his political intentions because he hoped to return to power, the Campaign for Popular Democracy claimed yesterday.
Campaign secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila claimed that Thaksin's refusal to reveal his intentions would only exacerbate subversive acts - or so-called "undercurrents". He said supporters were waiting for Thaksin's return and would not stop political acts aimed to achieve that. "If this is the case, the country will be in turmoil again,'' he said. If Thaksin desired to return to Thailand, he must clearly state his political intentions. Suriyasai believed Thaksin was confident the Council for National Security and its interim government would not survive politically and he would be able to return to power. "Thai diplomats in foreign countries where Thaksin has made public appearances accommodate him as if he were still prime minister,'' he alleged. Suriyasai claimed Thaksin's recent overseas appearances were intentional acts in a "psychological war" to give hope to people who supported him. He criticised the government for not removing the former premier's diplomatic passport. "This reflects government confusion about how to deal with Thaksin." The government should not mistake a return for Thaksin as a legal or rights issue. It would be a political bombshell. "The government needs to carefully weigh the political situation and come up with concrete measures to control Thaksin,'' he asserted. Democrat Party election office spokesman Thepthai Senpong called on the public to respect the government's decision not to lift martial law because of concerns about inflaming the political divide. "The Thai Rak Thai Party move to pressure the government and draw public attention to Thaksin is a marketing ploy it is good at,'' Thepthai said. He called on the news media not to overplay Thaksin's movements and create rifts. The Thai Rak Thai Party listened to its "real leader" - Pojaman Shinawatra - and not caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang, Thepthai claimed. Chaturon instructed party members not play politics but none were listening to him. "Chaturon cannot even move the party's office because the party owner disagrees," Thepthai alleged.
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