PM: Thaksin allowed home
He's free to defend his assets frozen by ASC
POST REPORTERS
Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is free to make ''an early return'' to Thailand to defend his assets now frozen by order of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.
He was responding to Mr Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama, who said the decision will force Mr Thaksin to come back quickly to fight the charges.
The assets freeze took effect yesterday. It is the first time the prime minister has given Mr Thaksin the green light to return to the country.
Gen Surayud has previously maintained it would be best if the ousted Thai Rak Thai founder just stayed away.
''He does not need to ask for permission from the government or the CNS (Council for National Security).
''He is a Thai and is free to enter and leave the country,'' Gen Surayud said.
Mr Thaksin has 60 days to counter the asset freeze, in person or through his representatives.
The prime minister said the government does not need to make any specific preparations for Mr Thaksin's return which many believe could stir up chaos.
''It is the job of the police. Our laws give equal rights and protection,'' Gen Surayud said.
However, the prime minister said that Mr Thaksin should inform the ASC of his tentative schedule to allow proper coordination.
Gen Surayud emphasised that the government's responsibility was not to judge Mr Thaksin, but to steer the country clear of troubles and towards a new general election.
CNS chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin gave an assurance Mr Thaksin would not be detained or barred from engaging in political activities when he returns home.
Gen Sonthi tried to allay fears that Mr Thaksin's homecoming would trigger violence, while noting that his return would call for security preparations.
Mr Noppadon said Mr Thaksin was reviewing his political future and considering a political comeback.
The ASC's assets freeze order could have been the deciding factor.
''Mr Thaksin wants to ask the CNS and the government if they want to see him return to fight for justice,'' he said.
Even though he was barred from politics by the Constitution Tribunal, Mr Thaksin could provide support to a political party and help it with its election campaign.
''After being bullied this much, I don't think he will stay calm and do nothing about it,'' said Mr Noppadon.
According to Mr Noppadon, the assets freeze prompted Mr Thaksin to consider his return to Thailand sooner than previously planned.
His decision would be known within the next few days.
Mr Thaksin's legal team will file civil and criminal lawsuits against the ASC by early next week, he added.
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They argued that the order should focus on the profit increment generated from Shin Corp shares during Mr Thaksin's two terms in office, which came to about 50 billion baht.
The freeze on Mr Thaksin's assets was pushed by certain members in April this year, said the source. In May, ASC member Klanarong Chantik, who also sits on a Shin Corp share investigation team, pushed for the freeze but it was rejected by fellow team members Mr Viroj and Mr Sak.
The majority ASC members who backed the freeze order were Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka, ASC secretary Kaewsan Atipho, Thammasat University lecturer Banjerd Singkhaneti, ASC chief Nam Yimyaem, Udom Phuengphung, Saowanee Assawaroj and Mr Klanarong.
The source said the Shinawatra family had already submitted a bank guarantee for the 5.6 billion baht in income tax which two of his grown-up children were ordered to pay by the Revenue Department for their Shin share sale profits.
This means that this tax liability should have been exempted from the assets freeze. As a consequence, it could provide grounds for the Shinawatras to sue the ASC, the source added.
The ASC decision was backed by a majority of respondents to a Dusit Poll released yesterday.
According to the poll conducted by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University, 51% of respondents agreed with the ASC's freeze order, while 29% disagreed.
The poll showed 64% of respondents believed the order would ratchet up political tensions further while 10% said it would create further social divisions.
