3 Octuber 2006
Former British Ambassador to Thailand , Derek Tonkin,
has expressed his support for the coup, suggesting
the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is
to blame for fostering conditions that led to
his ouster.
In a letter to London-based The Times newspaper,
published on September 25, Tonkin said Thaksin's
"wealth has become so immense and has been
used so shamelessly to undermine political opponents
and critics that his position has become virtually
unassailable through the ballot box."
His letter, published on September 25, was in
response to The Times' leading article on September
20 in which it stated Thaksin's record "does
not justify an illegal attempt to force him from
power".
"The problem for 30 per cent of urban dwellers
in Thailand who are mostly opposed to Mr. Thaksin
is that his political party, through what would
appear to be traditional but illegal vote-buying
practices, has cornered 70 per cent of the rural
vote," Tonkin said.
The former ambassador, who was posted to Thailand
from 1986-89, went on to ask; "As the declared
purpose of the coup is to restore democratic rights
and bring an end to corrupt domination of the
rural vote, is action against tyranny and for
democracy not fully justified?"
The Nation
|
