Although the clashes between anti-and-pro Thaksin Shinawatra
groups recently drew the caretaker prime minister into a maelstrom
again, the angry billionaire said he would not yield to the
"unjustified pressure" against him and would definitely run for the
poll this October.
Mr. Thaksin did not reveal his decision about political future,
long-awaited by the media, the public and his political rivals,
until Tuesday. At a meeting attended by main Thai Rak Thai (TRT)
Party members, he said he would run for the upcoming election as
the party's No.1 party-list candidate.
"The prime minister has decided not to leave politics, but
continue to be the TRT Party's leader, run for the forthcoming
general election as the party's No. 1 party-list candidate and
continue to serve the public and the nation," TRT Party deputy
spokesman Phimuk Simaroj told journalists after the meeting.
"The prime minister said he'll be patient and continue to take
care of the public, though tired by pressure from his opponents,"
Phimuk added.
It means if the TRT wins the Oct. 15 election, Thaksin will
continue his role as the prime minister of Thailand, against the
wish of his opponents, who want the prime minister to take a
political break.
TRT Party Secretary General Suriya Jungrungreangkit said that
the prime minister had decided to stay in politics as requested by
the party's members.
"If the TRT Party wins the next general election, we'll, again,
ask the prime minister to accept the premiership for the sake of
national benefits," Suriya was quoted by the state-run Thai News
Agency as saying.
Both Phimuk and Suriya said that, however, whether Thaksin would
continue his premiership after the upcoming general election
depends solely on his own decision.
Thaksin has been pressured by his critics and opponents to
suspend his political role, or even leave politics forever,
following a controversial sale of his family's stake in Shin Corp,
Thailand's then telecommunication giant, to Temasek Holding,
Singapore's largest telecommunication firm, early this year.
The pressure has resumed strongly since early August as the poll
is coming closer, leading to violent confrontations earlier this
week between his supporters and opponents.
Thaksin had announced to step aside from politics after the
April 2 general election to end the country's political crisis and
to pay tribute to the King on the occasion of the beloved monarch's
60 years on the throne this year.
The Constitutional Court later nullified the April 2 poll,
citing it was unconstitutional, which made Thaksin return to head a
caretaker government until a new one is formed after the next
general election.
About the October election, Thaksin seemed confident of his poll
box, especially during the north trip last week when he was greeted
by a large crowd of grass-root farmers, who have been firm
supporters of the prime minister.
On Tuesday at TRT headquarters, about 50 supporters gathered to
greet Thaksin and gave him flowers. Some shouted, "Fight on, PM",
to which Thaksin responded, "Surely. I won't give up."
(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2006)
