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While he fell short of stating that he would be seeking political asylum, Thaksin did not mince his words when attacking his adversaries. He said that hidden hands - a faction of the coup-makers who ousted him in September 2006 - were out to destroy him and his family.

Amid hopes that Thaksin's removal would defuse the tense political situation, Thailand's stock market rose 3.2 per cent.

For a brief moment, the entire nation came to a standstill. No one really knows what to make of Thaksin's announcement. Is this the end of a long and agonising episode that has almost brought the entire nation to its knees? A new beginning, perhaps? Surely Thailand can pull itself together and pick up the pieces and move on now that this political giant is no longer with us. At least that's what we tell ourselves.

But if you think this is over, you should think again. If anything, the content of Thaksin's handwritten statement, read on the state-run NBT television channel, was little more than a bad script for some cheap soap opera.

We have heard it all before. Besides, this is not the first time that Thaksin has claimed somebody was trying to kill him. But he has never made an effort to provide evidence to back up his claim.

Remember in March 2001 when a Thai Airways jet exploded just before he was due to board? Or in mid-2003 when members of his camp said the Wa drug army was out to kill him because of his "war on drugs"?

The first was not proven and the latter didn't make sense because Thaksin's drug policy left the Wa and other drug armies/producers operating in Burma's Golden Triangle virtually untouched.

And so when he again says somebody is out to kill him, forgive us for doubting his claim.

Incidentally, Thaksin had the audacity to say that the playing field would be in his favour with so many former Thai Rak Thai Party members now in the government and Parliament under the banner of the People Power Party.

What Thaksin didn't take into account was that Thailand's judicial system today is not the same as in 2001 when a muddy 8-7 ruling cleared him of assets concealment.

The logic seven years ago left many legal experts scratching their heads, but this time around, as seen in the verdict against Pojaman last Thursday, the preamble to the judgement made the case as rational and clear as one can get.

The judges relentlessly picked their way through the evidence line by line, tearing the Shinawatra couple apart as their lies were exposed.

However, it is too soon to equate the legal events unfolding in front of our eyes as the resurrection of the rule of law. After all, there are still many crooks in our government and bureaucratic system.

It is hoped that what has taken place will set an irreversible precedent for the entire country. We are desperately in need of some serious soul searching.

 In the weeks and months to come, there will be a realignment of the movers and shakers in Thai politics. Those who used to follow Thaksin might change their loyalty. This could have an impact on the political landscape. There has already been lots of movement among the various factions within the People Power Party.

Finally, as a fugitive on the run, Thaksin's diplomatic passport must be revoked immediately, including those of his family. Under Thai law no fugitive can hold a passport. In February, former foreign minister Noppadon Patama reissued the diplomatic passports to them.