Thaksin breaks Chamlong and Pallop apart?

Chamlong on Tuesday responded with a soft tone over Pallop's revelation that he and his group recently flew to China to play golf with Thaksin. He said he continued to enjoy a good friendship with Pallop because they had long been true friends since they were cadet students. He did not want to mention about Pallop's visit to Thaksin saying the ousted prime minister was not worth mentioning.

Pallop said former prime minister Anand Panyarachun's remark that only Thaksin could end the political woes facing the country inspired him to pay a visit to Thaksin. He said he had dinner, played golf and talked to Thaksin for two hours. Thaksin told him that the political turmoil would end only when the People's Alliance for Democracy ended their protest. Pallop said he agreed with Thaksin.

He said he could talk to Chamlong any time but it was difficult to persuade Chamlong (to end the protest) because he was not just one man but he was part of a team. "Nowadays, Chamlong goes far beyond me. It is hard to persuade him even though we are still good friend,'' he said.

Pallop said he would never switch sides to join the Democratic's Alliance against Dictatorship.

He added he had no idea how the political distress was going to end but he talked to people in the military circle, there would not be a coup even though both opposing sides clash and the fighting escalate into a civil war. "At best the military would just be a referee,'' he said.