Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is still healthy but he keeps quiet as does not want to be linked with political issues, people close to him said yesterday.
Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat - also a former prime minister - said Thaksin had greeted him by telephone on Sunday. Thaksin was not somewhere near Thailand and he was healthy.
"Thaksin has no signs of illness. His voice is still clear and he is healthy. If he were really sick, the Shinawatra family would have no reason to conceal it. If Thaksin has some sickness, it must be [emotional], as he misses his home and his kids. Although Khunying Pojaman Na Pombejra is his ex-wife, he still misses her," Somchai said.
Meanwhile, Thaksin's close aide Noppadon Pattama assured a press conference that Thaksin was still alive. He showed two photographs of Thaksin, one with Nelson Mandela and the other with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's second wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The date on the second picture was shown as August 27, 2010.
Noppadon insisted the pictures were taken recently, without photo-editing.
He said Thaksin went to see Mandela for peace discussions, as he travels to meet many national leaders and to seek business opportunities.
Somchai said Thaksin was well aware of the media reports that he keeps quiet because of illness. Some people might want him to be sick, he said.
"I've never heard Thaksin say he would come back to power. He has concern for the people and sometimes wants to communicate with them. I understand that no matter whether a celebrity speaks or keeps silent, it's still news," Somchai said.
Somchai said Thaksin had kept quiet lately as he had seen too much chaos in the country and did not want anyone to link him to political issues.
Somchai was speaking yesterday while Justice Ministry officials, police officers and Pheu Thai MPs greeted him at home on his 63rd birthday.
Asked whether he thought the Shinawatras should fade away, reducing their roles in the Pheu Thai Party, Somchai said the party belonged to everyone, not just the Shinawatras. Only a few family members remained in the party.
Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit has worked for the party since it was the People Power Party, Somchai said. He could be considered a real leader who administered the party well all along. The only problem was that Yongyuth was not an MP. However, the restructuring of the Pheu Thai Party could take place at any time, Somchai said.
Asked whether Pheu Thai's candidate for prime minister should be the party leader or an MP, Somchai said it should be whoever most carried the faith of the people.
He also said it was important for a political party to try to win people's trust and bring them hope.