Govt-in-exile, coup plot has PM unmoved
The government has dismissed claims by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra that he plans to set up a government-in-exile.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship supporters pack their tents after ending their rally at a Khao Soi Dao golf course and resort in Chanthaburi yesterday. THITI WANNAMONTHA
It also played down rumours that the anti-government red shirts plan to sow political chaos ahead of a key court decision.
The anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship is ratcheting up pressure on the government ahead of Feb 26, when the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions is scheduled to deliver its verdict on whether the state should seize 76 billion baht in frozen assets belonging to Thaksin.
The UDD also says it is planning to rally at the army headquarters to ask the military if it plans to stage a coup.
And Thaksin's supporters plan to issue documents which they claim explain how he acquired his assets.
Speaking via video link to a red-shirt protest at the Khao Soi Dao golf course and resort in Chanthaburi, where UDD members gathered at the weekend, Mr Thaksin on Saturday said he would set up a government-in-exile soon.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday brushed aside such a plan.
"No comment," the prime minister said when asked what he thought of the idea. "Thaksin just keeps analysing politics as he usually does.
"I have no idea when he will set up one. But nothing has happened so far. If a coup takes place, it will have nothing to do with Thaksin anyway."
At a seminar on double standards and violence in society, Chaturon Chaisaeng, a former acting leader of the People Power Party, yesterday said efforts had been made to justify a plan to quell anti-government elements.
Mr Chaturon also said he had heard that certain military leaders were blacklisting more than 200 pro-democracy demonstrators and thinking of staging a coup.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday said the conditions for Thaksin to set up a government-in-exile no longer exist.
The international community now recognised the Abhisit government, he said.
Mr Suthep told Democrat MPs at a party seminar in Krabi at the weekend the political troubles were likely to intensify between mid-February and early March. But things would return to normal in April.
A source said the Democrats believed anti-government groups led by the UDD and the Thaksin supporters would mount a major rally aimed at bringing down the government on Feb 19.
Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, said Thaksin loyalists would prepare documents to explain developments since the Sept 19, 2006 coup. The papers would show how Thaksin had made his money before he entered politics.
Hundreds of thousands of the papers would be published and distributed to the public next month, Mr Noppadon said.
He said the documents were not intended to pressure the court prior to the reading of its verdict in the Thaksin assets case.
UDD leader Natthawut Saikua said the red shirts would gather at the army headquarters to ask military leaders whether they plan to stage another coup, and to reconfirm their opposition to such an idea.
Events such as the recent grenade attack on the army headquarters and Mr Abhisit's recent visit to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda could be pointers to a possible coup, Mr Natthawut said.
First Army commander Kanit Saphitak denied rumours the military would stage a coup. They were ill-founded and intended to stir trouble, he said.
A military source said Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyuth travelled to Brunei last Sunday where he met Thaksin. The source said Thaksin would return to Cambodia in coming days and stay several days.
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