Thaksin holds the key : Anand

Former premier Anand Panyarachun yesterday urged Thaksin Shinawatra to help defuse the country's political crisis, saying he holds the key to breaking the stalemate.

"With due respect, I feel that former premier Thaksin is the only person who can crack the deadlock," Anand said.

He was speaking after |presiding over the cremation of Pol Lt-Colonel Methee Chatmontri, a member of |the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Anand said he was not accusing Thaksin of being behind the impasse but that he had merely come to such a conclusion after considering all the angles.

"I have no advice for Khun Thaksin. If he really intends to help ease the political tensions, he could do it right away. Khun Thaksin is clever and has good judgement. He doesn't need to consult anyone," Anand said.

The government of Somchai Wongsawat, a brother-in-law of Thaksin, could do the job if it were independent enough, he said.

Both sides of the feud should keep in mind that they also have a role in helping to unravel the impediments to reconciliation, he added.

Thaksin is now spending his second round of self-imposed exile in Britain after jumping bail in a corruption case and escaping to the country, where his family maintains a mansion.

He and his wife Pojaman have applied for asylum there on grounds that the Thai justice system is incapable of ensuring a fair trial for them.

Anand, who served as prime minister after the coup of 1991 and again after the Black May incident of 1992, said he hoped to see no more violence following the police break-up of an anti-government demonstration on October 7 that left two protesters dead and hundreds of people wounded, including policemen.

Anand and PAD leaders were among the grievers attending the funeral rites at Somanas Rajaworaviharn Temple for Methee, a retired policeman who was the head of the guards for PAD supporters.

Methee was killed when a vehicle exploded near him during the October 7 police crackdown on protesters outside Parliament.

Anand also visited Vichuda Radabpanyawuth, the mother of Angkana Radabpanyawuth, the other protester killed during the crackdown. Vichuda, who lost some toes in the incident, is recovering at Siriraj Hospital.

At Methee's cremation, besides leaders and members of the PAD, were politicians from the opposition Democrat Party and current and former senators.

Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was greeted with shouts of "new prime minister" from the PAD followers, who also rattled their hand-clappers in a show of support.