Ousted Thai PM Thaksin says will not try comeback

Ousted Thai PM Thaksin says will not try comeback - report

	Published : Mon, 15 Jan 2007 17:11 By : Agencies Print this Story

SINGAPORE (AFX) - Deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra said he had no intention of returning to Thai politics, denied involvement in recent fatal bomb blasts, and criticised Thailand's economic policy in his first media interviews since he was ousted.

Thaksin has broken his silence on his ouster and was disparaging about the economic policy of Thailand's new military-backed government in wide-ranging discussions with the Wall Street Journal and CNN.

'Enough is enough. Six years you serve the countries. (You have ) been working hard. You sacrifice your time, even your life,' the billionaire businessman told the CNN news channel.

'So it's, it's time for me to go back as a private citizen and contribute to the Thai society outside political arena.'

Thaksin, who was overthrown by the military on Sept 19 last year, was quoted on the Wall Street Journal website as saying accusations that he was involved in recent deadly bomb attacks in Bangkok forced him to speak out.

'They were pointing the finger at me, so I thought it was now time to talk,' he said.

Thaksin has been living in exile since his ouster, but the new army-backed government has accused elements linked to him of masterminding bombs which killed three and injured dozens in Bangkok on Dec 31.

'I'm not the kind of person to do anything behind the back of others,' the former leader told the Wall Street Journal. 'It's not my style. What happened was just too gruesome.'

Thaksin was in New York at the time of the putsch, and has since remained in exile, with visits to London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Bali and Singapore.

He told the Wall Street Journal that he wanted to return to Thailand, but indicated that he had no intention of trying to regain his office.

'I reassure them they shouldn't feel worried about me,' he said, referring to the ruling military leaders.

The website quoted Thaksin as saying that he did not intend to run for prime minister again, but would remain a member of his political party. Thaksin founded the Thai Rak Thai party, but stood down as leader after the coup.

He also questioned the new government's handling of the economy.

The Thai stock market plummeted a record 15 pct in December after the central bank announced draconian capital control measures aimed at halting the rise in the country's soaring currency.

Investor confidence was further shaken last week when the government approved changes to the Foreign Business Act that would force foreign investors to divest shares in certain circumstances.

'Whether we like it or not, we have to live under a capitalist system,' Thaksin was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying.

'And to live in it successfully, we have to open up our economy and our society. Competition is unavoidable so we have to prepare for it.'

The Thai authorities appeared to have blocked access to television adverts for the Thaksin interview, which is due to be shown in full on CNN this weekend.

Thaksin's image appeared for a few seconds, before the channel broadcasting CNN cut to images of celebrities and displayed the text: 'Programming will return shortly.'

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Ousted Thai PM Thaksin says will not try comeback - report