By Nopporn Wong-Anan
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made an emotional return from exile on Thursday, preaching reconciliation and forgiveness in a country still polarised by his five years in elected office.
“We can certainly have various opinions on various things, but we shall not be divided,” the former telecoms tycoon told a packed news conference after arriving from Hong Kong.
“It will be best for all of us to reduce our ego, and our prejudice,” he said.
However, few Thais believe — or want to believe — the 58-year-old’s mantra that he is returning only to clear himself of corruption charges and to spend quality time with the family after 18 months of exile enforced by a September 2006 coup.
The cheers and tears from the thousands who greeted him at Bangkok’s new airport suggest the only elected Thai prime minister to complete a full term in office will not be allowed to stay out of the political fray for long — even if he wanted to.
“I love him so much,” said 65-year-old Wilai Scott, who is married to a foreigner. “I want Thaksin to be PM again.”
The big question is whether he does indeed take a back seat, or whether he uses allies swept to power in a December election to go after the generals and the royalist elite who ousted him.
Already the People’s Alliance for Democracy, which led the protest marches against Thaksin that culminated in the coup, has warned Thaksin not to use political clout to sway the corruption cases against him and his wife. Continued…
Tags: cheers, cot, family, hong kong, news conference