Ousted premier can return if he stays out of politics : PM

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont reiterated Monday that ousted premier could return only on the condition that he stayed out of politics.
Surayud said the government did not close the door for Thaksin Shinawatra who is now in Japan to return home, but conditions should be set for the return."Khun Thaksin could come home if he wishes to, but condition should be that he will not get involved in any political parties," he said. The premier was speaking at the "Meet the Press" at the Government House on Monday. Thaksin was abroad when he was toppled by the military junta in September last year. Since then, he became globe trotter, travelling to London, Bejing, Hong Kong, Singapore and now Tokyo, apparently to put pressure on the military government. His visit to Singapore last week during which he met Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar has soured the relations between Singapore and Thailand. Despite Singapore's explanation that the visit was private, Bangkok suspended exchanges of high-ranking visits including that by foreign minister late this month. Surayud said Thaksin's visit to Japan would not have impact on the relations with Thailand because he did not meet any Japanese senior officials. He said it would not matter if Thaksin would be granted honorary degree from a university in Japan. The Nation
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