Envoys told to clarify Thaksin's claims
The military-backed government has asked diplomats to counter comments made by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in interviews with world news media organisations.
Thaksin has made comments critical of the junta and its governŽment in recent broadcasts and publications.The government is asking diplomats at more than 90 embassies to correct misinterpretations, Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said Wednesday. Addressing the National Legislative Assembly, Nitya alleged Thaksin had discredited the current government by telling foreign news media Thailand now rejected globalisation and had lost its direction of growth. The government and Thaksin detractors interpret this comment as implicit criticism of the sufficiency economy philosophy espoused by His Majesty the King and embraced by the Surayud Chulanont government. Nitya said the government through its overseas missions would disseminate "facts about policies and direction". His ministry had posted a rebuttal on its website. Nitya personally approached news media organisations including Time and Newsweek magazines that had published interviews with Thaksin. He asserted Thaksin's earlier claims to have quit politics now rang as insincere following attacks on the government. The Nation
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