'Thaksin?.. We call him Dad'

Thaksin Shinawatra's children haven't yet decided whether they should sign the plea for their father's royal pardon, despite the fact that the ousted prime minister's red-shirt supporters are going ahead with the campaign. The red shirts hope to collect at least a million signatures.

Royal pardon petition

"We haven't yet discussed among ourselves whether we will sign the petition," said Paethongtarn, Thaksin's youngest daughter.

The eldest son, Panthongtae, said he and his sisters didn't want to push anyone into signing the petition, adding that it was really up to each individual. However, he was quick to thank all his father's supporters. Pinthongta, the second daughter, said she would prefer that her dad did not return to politics.

The three siblings were speaking to the media at the launch of their book, "People Call Him Prime Minister, While We Call Him Dad", proceeds of which will go to five foundations.

Politics a taboo subject

Even though the youngsters protested that they did not want to discuss politics because they did not "know enough about it", Panthongtae looked like he had something to say.

As for the book's proceeds going to charity, they said it was their father who inspired the decision. "He's always taught us to help the poor in society," Pinthongtae said.

Present at the launch were representatives from the Foundation for the Disabled and the Underprivileged; the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand; the Foundation for Down's Syndrome; Foundation for the Blind under Royal Patronage; and the Kru Noi Foundation. Each foundation received Bt100,000, and children from the foundations of the blind showed their appreciation by putting on a song and dance show.

 "I'm grateful for their donation because it will give my kids a better life and future," founder of the Kru Noi Foundation, Nuannoi Timkul, said with a smile.

The book's content covers the one and only interview of the Shinawatra kids while their dad was prime minister and also includes some of their personal accounts of the time.

So far 20,000 copies of the book have been published, with 5,000 already snapped up at Bt100 apiece.