Some doubt Pojaman is here to see mother

"This return will likely aggra-vate the situation. I have learned that on the night of her arrival |many telephone calls were made to politicians,'' said Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaug-suban.

Pojaman arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport from Hong Kong about 10.30pm on Friday amid criticism and speculation that her return |had something to do with current political developments. The arrival of Thaksin's ex-wife comes at a time when the Pheu Thai Party, the reincarnation of the disbanded People Power Party, is facing a threat of mass defections by factions within it.

Pojaman stayed at Ban Chan Song La on Charansanitwong 69 and did not receive any visit from politicians or others. Police kept watch over the area for security.

Pongthep Thepkanchana, personal spokesman of Thaksin, said Pojaman's close aides told him her return did not have any political |significance and she had come |back to look after her mother, who was in hospital. He insisted that Pojaman had washed her hands of politics and filed an appeal seeking to overturn the guilty verdict on her for tax evasion.

In July the Criminal Court convicted her of evading payment of a Bt546-million tax bill on share transactions between her and her brother, Bhanapot, which were illegally declared as a family gift to avoid paying income tax.

Worawaj Ua-apinyakul, the caretaker culture minister and Phrae MP, denied reports that Pojaman had returned to oversee the formation of the government, to ensure that the Pheu Thai Party would be the core ruling party and to select a new prime minister.

Surapong Towichakchaikul, former PPP Chiang Mai MP, said Pojaman could attend the meeting of the Pheu Thai Party today if she wanted since she was not banned from political activity.

He denied Pojaman had come back to stop the mass defection of the Friends of Newin faction. "The Newin faction has stirred up the political waters only to increase its price and bargaining power, but it will always be with Thaksin,'' he said.

He also doused speculation that former PPP MPs who used to be Democrats such as Somchai Petprasert and Chaowarin Lattasaksiri would defect to the Democrat Party.

Democrat Party spokesman Dr Buranat Samutrak urged Pojaman to issue a statement declaring her political stance to prevent the country from plunging into political conflict.