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Published on January 12, 2008

The Democrat Party was contacted by a close aide of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra asking them to join a People Power Party (PPP) government last week but the Democrats declined the offer, a Democrat source said yesterday.

Later, Thaksin's close aide contacted them again proposing another option - to let the Democrats form the government on the condition they help Thaksin with his legal cases.

The Democrats also turned down this offer, said the source.

"If the Democrats accepted such a condition, it would be pressured by society and its voter base in the city, who would certainly not let the government compromise with Thaksin," the source said.

"The only possibility is that it must wait for the Election Commission's ruling on red and yellow cards, as well as cases related to the People Power dissolution. This is mainly why it did not compete in the formation of the government."

A source close to the People Power Party yesterday confirmed the report, and said that because the negotiations had failed, the former prime minister had ordered the PPP to announce the forming of the government.

He believed the number of red and yellow cards would not impact on the party house seats.

Another source from PPP confirmed that it was trying to form the government.

However, that source said, if they succeeded it would only be for a short term in order to free the 111 banned executives of Thai Rak Thai and to remove the Assets Examination Committee.

It would then dissolve Parliament and call for a new election.

"It will not use the amnesty laws. The PPP plans to remove the Constitution Court judges too. It will nullify the Council for National Security's appointment of the judges, saying it was unlawful," the source said. "It will say any resolution by the judges is unlawful including the Thai Rak Thai's dissolution."

It would then transfer Thaksin's legal cases to the National Counter-Corruption Commission instead, the source said. At the same time, it would reboot its popularity through populism policies so that it could gain an overwhelming victory after the election.

The source said ousted Prime Minister Thaksin has tried to talk to Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont asking for reconciliation.

According to this source, Thaksin offered to leave politics and wanted the government to transfer his legal cases from the Assets Examination Committee to the National Counter-Corruption Commission but Thaksin's proposal was rejected.

"The government can only let Thaksin return to Thailand to defend the charges against him, but Thaksin is unwilling to do this because he knows that when he returns the authorities would ban him from leaving the country as his wife has discovered," the source said.

Khunying Pojaman, wife of Thaksin, returned to Thailand on Tuesday to defend herself against corruption charges.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) released her on bail and banned her from leaving the country without permission.

The Nation