Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, told Reuters this month he would not return any time soon as the verdict against him was politically motivated. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
BANGKOK - FORMER Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, convicted of graft and on the run overseas, will not return home in December as many domestic newspapers have reported, his spokesmen said on Monday.
Thaksin criticises Britain for revoking visa
DUBAI - THAILAND'S fugitive former prime minister has criticised Britain for revoking his visa and said he will return to his country if the king and the people want him back.
Thaksin Shinawatra fled Thailand in August and settled in London to escape several charges, including corruption. But Britain revoked his visa earlier this month, shortly after a Thai court in October sentenced Thaksin in absentia to two years in prison.
A lawmaker for the ruling People Power Party kicked off the rumour mill last week, suggesting to reporters that Thaksin was thinking about making a comeback on Christmas Day, Dec 25, or New Year's Eve.
His official spokesman, Pongthep Thepkanchana, said there was no truth in the speculation.
'He never mentioned this to me, even in our latest phone conversation last week,' he said, adding that should he return, Thaksin would immediately be jailed because of his conviction in absentia for breaking conflict of interest laws while in office.
Mr Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's occasional lawyer, also said it would not be safe for Thaksin to return, even to prison.
'He won't be safe in the prison. What if they let crazy people get close to him?,' Mr Noppadon said.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, told Reuters this month he would not return any time soon as the verdict against him was politically motivated.
Talk of his possible arrival has inflamed political passions in Bangkok, where protesters have occupied the offices of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, accusing him of being a Thaksin puppet.
The Gulf-based Arabian Business magazine quoted Thaksin, who is now thought to be in Dubai, as saying he would return only if the people and the king of Thailand wanted him to go back.
'I think a lot depends on the power of the people. If they feel they are in hardship and they need me to help them, I will go back,' he was quoted as saying in an interview on the paper's website.
'If the king feels I can be beneficial I will go back and he may grant me a royal pardon. If they don't need me and the king feels I can make no difference then I will stay here and do business.' -- REUTERS
