BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday urged fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra not to incite unrest in the kingdom ahead of mass protests planned by the opposition.

Mr Abhisit told Agence France-Presse that he hoped pro-Thaksin rallies due to start tomorrow would not disrupt his plans to unveil his policies to Parliament, adding that police had been ordered not to resort to violence.

The 44-year-old new Prime Minister also said that all parties involved in this year's political unrest, including those behind a costly blockade of Bangkok's airports, should face justice as part of a wider reconciliation plan.

'I have no problem with him (Thaksin) speaking, I would only urge him to put the country's position above his and that the country's interests now lie in peace and stability,' Mr Abhisit said in an interview at his office in Bangkok.

Thaksin loyalists say the ousted premier, who was toppled in a military coup in 2006, may address supporters by telephone tomorrow and they have vowed further rallies during the policy statement next Monday and Tuesday.

A protest led by the royalist, anti- Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) outside Parliament on Oct 7 ended with two people dead and 500 injured, but Mr Abhisit said police had been given instructions 'that we don't want a repeat'.

Police have said they will deploy nearly 3,000 officers, equipped only with riot shields, outside Parliament tomorrow for the Thaksin-supporting 'red shirts'.

'I hope that we will be able to deliver a policy statement according to our plans on Monday and Tuesday,' Mr Abhisit said. 'I am confident that we will handle the situation on those two days in ways that will not damage the country's image.'

Twice-elected Thaksin is living in exile to avoid a jail term on corruption charges, but his allies won elections a year ago, sparking protests peaking with the week-long blockade of Bangkok's airport that ended early this month.

A court on Dec 2 disbanded the pro-Thaksin ruling People Power Party and barred then-premier Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, from politics. Mr Abhisit won a parliamentary vote to become prime minister on Dec 15 with help from defectors from Thaksin's camp and from coalition parties that were part of the last government.

But he dismissed criticisms from Thaksin's allies that his election was undemocratic, adding he would only call new elections 'when the time is appropriate. We need to move the country forward'.

His new Foreign Minister, Mr Kasit Piromya, has already come under fire for playing a key role in PAD's week-long airport blockade, which cost the country about 100 billion baht (S$4 billion) and left 350,000 travellers stranded.

Mr Abhisit said that under his plan for national reconciliation after the recent turmoil, the 'key principle' was justice, with a number of 'outstanding cases against various groups during the conflict of the last year'.

He did not give details or say whether the cases were against anti- or pro-Thaksin activists, but specified that the yellow-clad PAD movement 'must accept the legal consequences of their actions'.

Mr Abhisit said a pardon for Thaksin was possible in future but the former leader must first return to face justice.

'Nothing is ruled out, but you have to accept your punishment and your responsibilities first,' Mr Abhisit said.

On the economy, Mr Abhisit said he would soon unveil a 300-billion baht stimulus package for the economy, focusing partly on rural areas where Thaksin has traditionally had strong support.

But Mr Abhisit sought to play down the rifts in Thai society, seen as pitting Thaksin against the Bangkok-based elite of the palace, military and bureaucracy who saw his influence as a drain on their power.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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