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New Thai PM calls on ousted Thaksin to return home to face justice
Thailand's new prime minister on Thursday called for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra to return home to face justice and bring closure to months of political turmoil that has revolved around him.
- AP
- Published: 10:12 December 18, 2008
Bangkok: Thailand's new prime minister on Thursday called for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra to return home to face justice and bring closure to months of political turmoil that has revolved around him.
Abhisit Vejjajiva made the comments a day after being sworn in as Thailand's third prime minister in four months.
Abhisit, a 44-year-old graduate of Oxford, is the first opponent of Thaksin to lead a civilian government in the past seven years. Thaksin, who took power in 2001, was ousted by a coup in 2006 but has nevertheless loomed over Thai politics since then.
A Thai court in October convicted Thaksin in absentia of violating a conflict of interest law while in office and sentenced him to two years in prison. There are several pending corruption cases against Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon.
"I want to see him back," Abhisit told Channel 7 news. “If he comes back and fights in court and shows that all Thai people are equal, there will be a closure."
"Thai society is merciful and forgiving, but first he has to show acceptance in the judicial process," said Abhisit, who was scrambling to assemble a Cabinet capable of tackling the country's economic and social problems.
Thaksin has lived in self-imposed exile ever since his ouster, most prominently in Britain and Hong Kong.
Six months of political tumult have centered on Thaksin, with protesters taking to the streets to demand the government be purged of his allies. The unrest came to a head with an eight-day siege of Bangkok's airports that ended earlier this month.
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