Prommin rejects smear allegation

A close aide of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Prommin was accused by the ruling Democrat Party as being one of the three key persons working closely with four international public-relations and related agencies tasked with carrying out such a damaging campaign.

Buranut Samuttaruk, chief Democrat spokesman, said Thaksin had engaged four firms - namely Bell Pottinger North, Baker Botts, Edelman Public Relations and lobby-marketing firm Barbour Griffith and Rogers - since 2006.

So far, only the contract with Barbour Griffith and Rogers has been terminated, Buranut said.

These firms were hired to pose questions about the legitimacy of the Thai national assembly and |the recent policy statement delivered by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Foreign Ministry, he said.

Due to a blockade of Parliament on December 29 by pro-Thaksin protesters, lawmakers were forced to convene at the ministry's building for the maiden policy speech, rather than at the legislature's building.

There have also been efforts to cast doubts on the Thai judicial system and deride its integrity via the international mass media, Buranut said.

However, Prommin, a former deputy premier in the Thaksin government that was ousted by the September 2006 coup, told reporters that the Abhisit government could better focus on tackling the economic problems facing the people.

"Instead of trying to find a political 'scapegoat', the government should work hard to help people and take legal action against the core leaders [of the People's Alliance for Democracy] who laid siege to the airports," he said.

Besides Prommin, the Democrats also accused Pansak Vinyarat, a former Thaksin adviser, and Phumtham Vejjayachai, another Thaksin confidant, of working with international PR and lobby firms to discredit Thailand in the eyes of the international community.

The government cannot shirk its responsibility to solve the immediate problems of the people by trying to turn its political rivals into villains, Prommin suggested.