"So when democracy returns to Thailand, that is [when] Thailand will prosper again, and then I will go back to contribute to the country as a normal citizen," he told a news conference.

Senior judges last week dissolved Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party and banned the twice-elected premier from politics for five years.

"The government has promised the December election, and now they already allow political gatherings. I think democracy should return back to Thailand soon," Thaksin said.

"After Thailand returns to democracy, I think that freedom of speech, freedom of thinking will prevail. And then, at that time, I will go back and I will teach, the younger generation especially, the experience that I have."

Thaksin, a self-made billionaire, is in Tokyo as a visiting professor of business and economics at Takushoku University.

"After I retire from politics, I'd like to spend part of my life sharing my experience and knowledge with the younger generation - that is, teaching," Thaksin said.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama, speaking in Bangkok, said the ex-premier would start lecturing on economic and business development at the university on July 5, and would travel between Tokyo and London, where he has lived in exile since his overthrow last September.

 "Thaksin joked that he was really happy with his [academic] position because it's his first job since he became unemployed after the coup," he said.

Agence France-Presse,   The Nation

TOKYO