Thaksin denies sabotage claims again

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, declaring yesterday that the goal of his fighting is to remove bureaucratic polity from the country, denied allegations that he intended to sabotage the monarchy institution.

During a phone-in to his supporters at Government House, Thaksin attacked three former prime ministers - Privy Council chief General Prem Tinsulanonda, Surayud Chulanont and Anand Panyarachun - and Privy Councillor Phichit Kullavanijaya as being conservatives who did not want to see Thailand become a more democratic country.

He accused the four of being bureaucrats who are dragging democracy backwards. He said that during his premiership he helped democracy take a big leap forward.

He alleged that Prem was premier for eight years without being elected by the people but only because Members of Parliament supported him. Surayud and Anand also prime minterial posts to lead coup-installed governments.

He urged his supporters to rally on Wednesday to fight against bureaucratic polity and bureaucratic interference so that the people achieved true democracy. "Bring your children and grandchildren. If you come en mass, they will not dare to stage a coup. Let me be the last PM that fell victim to a coup,'' he said.

Thaksin also rejected the allegation from Phichit that he shifted more than Bt100 billion to the Cayman Islands, an island notorious for money laundering.

Thaksin vehemently denied the allegation, saying that if the Democrat-led government could find his money in the Caymans then it could take the money and put to good use for the country.

Earlier yesterday, Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda said that Thaksin's motive in attacking people who serve His Majesty the King was likely sabotage of the revered institution.

During a press interview after chairing an awards presentation at Thammasat University, he refused to respond to the allegation from Thaksin's supporters that he plotted the September 19 coup that brought down the Thaksin government.

"I will not say again. I have already said it all,'' he said.

Prem denied the allegation when speaking to the people of Songkhla, his hometown.

Prem said he did not need to prepare anything against the threats by red-shirted protesters to lay siege to his residence - Ban Si Sao Thewes. He would not leave his home as it was the only one he had.

He refused to answer directly whether he believed Thaksin had any ulterior motive in condemning him and former prime minister Surayud Chulanont.

"The media knows better than me. I am not paying attention to what Thaksin says. I have said many times that I do not listen to what he says,'' he said.

When pressed further to answer whether he believes Thaksin wants to sabotage the monarchy by attacking people who served the King, Prem said "probably''. And when asked how he could prevent that from happening, he said, "(Thaksin) should not say".

His advice for these trying times was for Thais to love one another, unite and follow in the footsteps of the King, as well as live the life guided by him.

Sumet Tantivejkul, president of the Foundation for a Clean and Transparent Thailand, said he had not been contacted to become the mediator in reconciling the two conflicting parties and only heard about it from the media. He said negotiation was the best solution to the problems facing the country.