Lawyers for fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra launched a concerted attack both locally and overseas against the government's reconciliation plan yesterday.
"The prime minister said he would not have any talks with terrorists and he was possibly referring to Thaksin, who was previously charged with terrorism. … If he is really sincere about reconciliation, Thaksin and everybody else will be ready for talks," Noppadon told a press conference at the opposition Pheu Thai Party's headquarters.
In Tokyo yesterday, Thaksin's foreign lawyer Robert Amsterdam yesterday said the reconciliation process was "phoney".
"It is impossible to reconcile with political opponents who you jail pursuant to an emergency decree, using emergency legislation that is contrary to the rule of law," he said. "The Thai government is doing everything to restrict their access to funds, their access to travel, their access to speak, so that this, if you excuse me, phoney reconciliation can go on."
Amsterdam, one of at least seven lawyers representing Thaksin, called for reconciliation through an international tribunal and "something revolutionary called elections", Agence France-Presse reported.
Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Amsterdam said he was visiting Japan because one of those killed during the recent unrest in Bangkok was a Japanese journalist. He urged the Japanese government to support an investigation into the cause of the violence.
The London-based lawyer also said the Thai government should hold elections soon to prove it has the public mandate after the protests left 90 dead.
Amsterdam said the government's handling of the red-shirt protests showed it did not have the support of the people and feared the return of Thaksin, whom it has called a terrorist for allegedly fomenting the unrest.
The red-shirt movement's main demand during the rally was an early election.
"I think they made a serious mistake by calling him a terrorist," Amsterdam said. "I think they have reduced their chances of any country extraditing him," because of the possibility of a death penalty that the charges carry, the Associated Press reported.
"These people are scared of Thaksin. They are scared of someone elected by the people," he said. "The real legitimate leader of the Thai people happens to be Dr Thaksin."
At the Pheu Thai HQ yesterday, Noppadon also dismissed allegations by certain figures from the ruling Democrat Party that Thaksin had hired foreign lobbyists and lawyers to harm Thailand's reputation. "Thailand is like a car, which the opposition and the government take turns to drive. We will by no means break the car or puncture the tyres," he said.
Noppadon also rejected media reports that some red-shirt leaders were forming an underground army in a neighbouring country to fight against the government.
"If the government has evidence that Thaksin has an army in the neighbouring country, I will resign as his legal adviser immediately. But if no proof is found, I expect the Democrat Party to take responsibility by making a public apology," he said.