Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra plans to strike back against his abuse-of-power verdict by appealing to the World Court and seeking the impeachment of the Supreme Court judges on his case, a source said yesterday.
"I'm not going to let anyone keep me down. I will fight in every way that I can. I will not chicken out," Thaksin tweeted. In a statement issued yesterday, he also said he felt his family had been robbed.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, during his "Meet the Press" recording with newspaper editors at Government House, said the government would retain security measures and remain vigilant after the court ruling, but urged the public to live a normal life and view this matter with an unbiased mind.
Abhisit's spokesman from the ruling Democrat Party, Theptai Senpong, called on Thaksin to stop egging on his supporters. "Every side should accept the verdict. We want to ask Thaksin to quit the political movement, because if he quits the red shirts will quit too," he said.
Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam, a Democrat, said he believed Thaksin would try to seize political power so laws could be passed to pardon him.
Thaksin's legal advisers met to prepare as more legal battles with the National Anti-Corruption Com-|mission are expected following the ruling by the Supreme Court's Division for Political Office Holders.
Thaksin also faces 11 cases at the same court for tax evasion and the sale of Ample Rich shares.
The lawyers have been instructed to file a complaint with the World Court against the Thai justice system, claiming it has been dysfunctional since the Thaksin government was brought down by the 2006 coup. The dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai Party and the People Power Party at the hands of the court would be cited.
Thaksin also ordered his men at the opposition Pheu Thai Party to initiate impeachment proceedings against the nine judges. However, sources said Thaksin might fail to unseat the judges because the NACC would have to investigate first and may rule that the accusation against the judges was groundless.
"I felt that my family has been robbed, ill-treated and harassed to the point that I can no long endure," he said. "I have never thought that political destruction will have such severe consequences. I feel sorry for my family and children for having to bear the consequences of offences that we did not commit."
"The assets seizure and what's happening to me and my family are greatly unjustified. Those who support me and those who love justice are shaken and angered for me. I plead that they do not resort to violence that would lead to destruction to the country," the statement said. He blamed the move to have his assets stripped from him on the ammart - the powerful elite "intent on destroying him" - saying he will resort to all legal venues to ensure justice.
Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's lawyer, said his team felt the verdict to seize assets was not fair, as the share prices had risen in line with the market. "Suppose the five measures [cited by the prosecution] benefited the share prices by Bt30. If the price rose to Bt150, but it rose according to the market's index by Bt20, it is not fair that this Bt20 is also seized," he said.
The lawyers will also fight back by arguing that the five measures cited by the court were not implemented to benefit Thaksin and were not an abuse of power since he was entitled to implement those measures, which benefited the country.
The lawyers will decide today or tomorrow whether to appeal the ruling within the 30 days allowed if they have new evidence to present, he said.
The pro-Thaksin red-shirt movement in Chiang Mai is planning to stage a rally in Bangkok on March 14 to protest the court's judgement.
