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BANGKOK - IN WHAT has become a well-rehearsed routine, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday called a few foreign journalists to a briefing where he said he had washed his hands of politics for good - an assurance that many Thais have trouble believing.
Nothing would persuade him to go back into politics, he said, adding that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had his full moral support.
He said he had not met Mr Samak since returning to Thailand on Feb 28 and had no intention of meeting him because he did not want to send 'mixed signals'.
He said he had made some mistakes out of 'good intentions to drive the country forward' while in power, and may have pushed for change too fast and too aggressively, spawning the opposition that culminated in the September 2006 coup.
But he said the military had been taught a lesson by the electorate.
Thaksin spoke in an informal setting around a coffee table at the offices of his Thaicom Foundation, which was once headquarters for his erstwhile Thai Rak Thai party.
Asked about his relations with Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda, widely seen as having orchestrated the coup, he said diplomatically: 'He is a very well respected person and I know him well and still respect him.'
He repeated that he 'will never want to come back' to politics.
'I have done a lot for my country, in almost six years as prime minister, I think it's enough,' he said, adding that he will spend more time with his family.
'I will teach, and I will be running my Manchester City Football Club and I will help in other sports and charities.'
He said his party was the first ever to win almost half of Parliament, complete its term and win again by an even bigger landslide.
'That's something that might have threatened those who enjoyed weak politics in the past,' he said, adding that his government may have failed to adequately explain its vision and objectives.
'I wanted to move the country fast, and some resisted changes I wanted to make.'
Saying he has 'no problem' with the military now, he added: 'The question of loyalty (to the monarchy, cited by the junta) was just an accusation from some of my political foes. It was an excuse for the coup.'
On corruption charges against him and his family, on which he will appear in court to file testimony today, he said: 'We can prove our innocence, it should not be any problem, we have done nothing wrong.'
Referring to the heavy security surrounding him, he said there had been five attempts to assassinate him in the last three or four months of his premiership. But he added that the security will be reduced 'from time to time' as the situation goes back to normal.
On the military's role, he said: 'This is the first time in Thai history that those politicians in the camp of the government that was toppled have been re-elected by the Thai people.'
He explained that the Thai people were telling the military they do not want any more coups.
Thailand's Supreme Court yesterday granted him permission to leave the country for four weeks after his appearance today to answer graft charges.
'I have to go back (to Manchester City) the day after tomorrow and tighten the bolts,' he joked, referring to recent losses suffered by the previously resurgent Premier League club.
He would return to Thailand by mid-April in time for the annual Songkran festival, he said.
nirmal@sph.com.sg
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