Thailand's deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gives a traditional greeting at a press conference in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, February 28, 2008. Thaksin affirmed he would quit politics at his first press conference after returning to Thailand on Thursday morning, ending 17 months of self-exile since a military coup toppled his government. (Xinhua Photo)
Thailand's deposed Thaksin Shinawatra has promised to stay out of politics after returning to Thailand on Thursday morning, ending 17 months of self-exile since a military coup toppled his government.
The ex-premier said he had returned to defend his and his family's reputation against "unfair" allegations and charges brought up by junta-appointed bodies after the military staged a coup on September 19, 2006 to oust his government while he was attending a United Nations Assembly in New York.
He decided it is the proper time for him to return now that Thailand is returning to the normal track of democratic rule under a Constitutional Monarchy after the country held a general election on December 23, 2007 and had a new elected government.
The 59-year-old billionaire-turned-politician said he would definitely stay out of politics and live quietly and peacefully with his family as a normal Thai citizen in his motherland, as he found "no other place as warm and happy to him".
The ex-premier made the remarks at a brief press conference at a Bangkok hotel after he reported himself to the Supreme Court, which earlier issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman on irregularity charges involving a controversial land deal on Bangkok's Ratchadapisek Road in 2003, and the Office of the Attorney General, where he was charged by the Department of Special Investigation of concealing assets in the SC Asset company.
He was released on bail by the two legal bodies.
Thaksin had arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport by a Thai International Airways flight from Hong Kong on Thursday morning. He was greeted by thousands of joyous supporters who waved "We love Thaksin" and "Welcome Home".
No protests or confrontations have been reported in Bangkok, once the venue for mass street anti-Thaksin demonstrations two years ago organized by anti-Thaksin group People's Alliance of Democracy (PAD), which announced its reactivation earlier in the week, but refrained from appearing in any way at the airport or other part of the capital.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee already said he would ask the ex-premier Thaksin to be an economic adviser.
He said it would not be against the law because this is not an official position.
The Constitutional Tribunal dissolved the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party on electoral fraud charges and banned Thaksin and all other 110 party executive of TRT from politics for five years.
Opponents have feared the new government led by the People Power Party (PPP), which was seen as a new banner for the defunct TRT and landed a victory in the December election, would seek an amnesty for the 111 former TRT executives including Thaksin to pave way for Thaksin's political comeback.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition party Democrat Party, on Thursday said he welcome Thaksin back to face charges in court, but warned the ex-premier to keep his pledge to stay out of Thai politics, and refrain from tampering the judicial system.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) gained 10.08 points to 842.12 points at closing on Thursday, but analysts were not sure whether they should be attributed to the news of Thaksin's return.
Most critics remain doubtful about Thailand's political stability with Thaksin's return, as the Thai society is still divided between anti-Thaksin and pro-Thaksin camps.
(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2008)
