A bold interview published by Times, with a very bold title (but I think misleading in a way) :
Ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra calls for ‘shining’ new age after King’s death
[...] Tomorrow [tuesday] he is due to arrive in Cambodia on a visit that has caused an intense diplomatic row between the two countries. [...]
Mr Thaksin’s remarks about the Thai monarchy are further evidence that, three years after being forced out as the democratically elected Prime Minister in a military coup, he is still contemplating a political future in Thailand. They also suggest that he is placing his hopes in the man likely to succeed to the country’s throne: the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
“He’s not the king yet. He may not be shining [now],” Mr Thaksin told The Times in an interview from Dubai. “But after he becomes the King I’m confident he can be shining . . . it’s not his time yet. But when the time comes I think he will be able to perform.” [...]
“The Crown Prince may not be as popular as His Majesty the King,” Mr Thaksin said. “However, he will have less problem because the palace circle will be smaller . . . He had education abroad and he’s young. I think he understands the modern world.
“When the world is changing every organisation must adapt to the changing environment. When you are born as a baby your heart is very small [but] you cannot keep the baby heart in an adult body . . . Every institution, not just the royal institution, is the same — it must be adapted.”
Poor Abhisit. Nightmares are likely to continue to haunt his nights… ! 
As for Thaksin, this is really bold material.
Anyway… Let’s wait tuesday. If really Thaksin is about to land in Cambodia… the blow would be enormous for Abhisit… Like a very bad poker player, he bluffed with no cards in his hand… Toying with words (saying that Thailand would ask for Thaksin’s extradition, cutting diplomatics ties etc.)… He is trapped inside the trap he designed himself…
What is he going to do ?
The drama is unfolding.
UPDATE
Well, that was fast. Thaksin has issued a statement to denounce the “complete distorsion” of his interview.
“It (the article) was a complete distortion of my interview. The falsified article has caused confusion among the readers and the Thai people. The headline made by Timesonline is not true. I never said that in the interview,” Thaksin said in the statement.
I must say whenever I talk to people who met and spoke with the crown prince they were really taken by his character, describing him as a charming, most pleasing man.
All the other talk is from people who never met him, personally.
Go figure.
fwiw, I agree about Abhisit. The pundits fell over themselves to pat him on the back, declaring he struck a bold blow and achieved an ascendency over Cambodia with what I thought was just bluster and childish tantrum. Thais got themselves all puffed up with self-importance and an imagined heroism. Again. Just like schoolchildren.
Now it looks like he will see that Cambodia doesn’t actually give a shit about his bluster and tantrum and there is nothing whatever he can do about it. Will he declare war? No, the international community would not put up with that kind of Thai nonsense. Thailand would suffer a huge blow to its street cred in ASEAN and never be able to hold its head up. After the April nonsense then leaders not turning up for the October opening, Thailand is just a laughing stock already and the sight of incompetent Thai soldiers falling over themselves and shooting each other up under the command of incompetent Thai generals would just add to the enormous loss of face Thailand has already been able to generate through its blundering and blunderbussing.
Poor Abhisit, he tries so hard to make people take him seriously, but the longer he stays in power the more of a buffoon he makes of himself. he lacks any kind of authority, he manifestly can’t make decisions without checking with the army and the Palace first, he downright lies in speeches. It’s just too awful for him the poor dear, all his adult life he wants to be PM, now he is and this is what happens, he really ought to kill himself for the shame.
He just can’t win for losing. And everyone is laughing. Including Cambodia.
With all the propaganda we have here, I’d say they can make a serial killer into a messiah.
Remember all those “flight tracker” reports of a cetain airplane (not Thaksin’s) going to and from Dubai airport……….
Remember all those “flight tracker” reports of a certain airplane (not Thaksin’s) going to and from Dubai airport………
Thaskin is winning this battle slowly bad gradually.
He´s full of surprises too.
When Abhisit talks to Thaskin (and Thai´s in general) about putting the country above everything else, what is he talking about?
Abhisit Thailand is not the same Thailand that the wast majority of Thai´s live in. Abhisit Thailand is the Elite´s. It´s not a democratic one like Abhisit tries to sell the world.
The poor and the red, the wast majority of Thai´s, live in a totally different world then the Elite and yellow that Abhisit presents.
So, why should the majority of Thai´s that are denied basic human rights protect the Thailand Abhisit represents?
Answer:
They should not. They should stand up to their rights and fight injustice that Abhisit and the elite force them to live with. Democracy is not real, today Thailand is more like a fascist and nationalist state, ruled by the corrupt and rich.
Thailand is ruled by the corrupt elite and the Thai´s are starting to realize that thanks to Thaskin.
Thailand is waiting to be liberated from the forces of evil and the undertone generally points to a bloody revolution might be sooner then later. It´s not a question of if it will happen but when….
The times are changing fast.
Dan : very interesting “angle”. We should indeed be cautious. Because we don’t have a lot of first hand information. You should write something about this “angle”.
The full 12 page transcript is now avaialble:
Thaksin Shinawatra: the full transcript of his interview with The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6909258.ece
ASEAN Secretary-General appeals Cambodia, Thailand to exercise maximum restrain.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/09/content_12416717.htm
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan, has appealed Cambodia and Thailand to exercise maximum restraint and asked ASEAN foreign ministers to assist the two countries to end the dispute.
Surin informed the ministers that he has received many inquiries and expressions of concern from ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners and friends over the apparent deterioration of relations between Cambodia and Thailand, as evidenced in the recalling of their Ambassadors earlier this week.
The secretary general said that the dispute could undermine the credibility of ASEAN.
“We in ASEAN cannot afford to be seen as being so seriously divided prior to the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the historic ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting in Singapore this month,” he said in a statement received by Xinhua on Monday.
The Secretary-General pointed out that in line with the spirit of the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976, all other Member States in ASEAN are obliged to offer assistance to help fellow Member States settle their settlement.
Thaksin lies again.
He might be a good business leader but he can’t be the leader of the country. He can say something sound good, but if you really look into what he have done, he clearly do everything for himself.
‘We have extradition papers ready but our documents must be approved by the attorney general after we receive a request by the foreign ministry or police,’ Sirasak Tiypan of the Thai attorney general’s office said.
‘The papers are the same we have sent to Fiji, Nicaragua and the United Arab Emirates.’
The Thai government said last week that it would seek Thaksin’s extradition as soon as he set foot in Cambodia. But Cambodia has said it will reject any such request. (Same as Fiji, Nicaragua and the United Arab Emirates.)
The feud over Thaksin had already prompted Thailand and Cambodia to recall their ambassadors from each others’ capitals last Thursday.
What a farce! Just pray no lives are lost over this political stupidity (both sides)
The Thai government also threatened to close their shared border so Thai’s can’t go gambling in Cambodia (there is no other trade!)
good news for macau casinos!!!
so stupid story I have nothing more to say
If the red-yellow tussle has taught us anything, is that the role of the palace in future Thailand will be a lot less important that it is now. Setting a “shining new age” will be out of the new King’s jurisdiction.
Perhaps Thaksin means that the money and power could steamroll over everything and buy him enough votes to rule with impunity, with palace being out of the way. I don’t know what will be so “shining” about it.
He also underestimates people’s opposition to this kind of politics. There’s no coming back to 2003-2004, he will never be able to unite the country again, and there’s nothing shining about deeply divided country either.
Also, relying on the new generation of “ammart” goes against the core red principles.
You can’t blame him for his hopes, whatever happens, it can’t get any worse for him anyway.
i said it many months ago, thaicrisis…
you attract an audience that deludes itself being “in-the-know”.
go, read the transcript. this man has neither heart/ethics nor conscience. & he’s desperate on war-path.
*
to all comments above: _IF_ thaksin actually would “win” – it’ll be dark & bloody ages for thailand for many many years to come.
hey, why be smart? just look into your heart
Maverick : unfortunatly, politics do not always equal to “heart”… So, once you’ve said that Thaksin is evil… you have basically said nothing.
And it’s not because his political return could be a disaster… that it won’t happen. That’s the problem.
There is no archangel behind our back, looking after and taking care of Thailand with kindness, like a mother looking after her children…
Instead, there are men and power struggle.
MORE FUN:
Thaksin condemns Times online for false reporting
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/11/09/politics/politics_30116189.php
****************************
Thailand on Monday accused ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra of offending the country’s monarchy.
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-11-09-thaksin-royal-comments-fuel-thaicambodia-furore
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya — who has links to a royalist group that besieged Bangkok’s airports last year to bring down the previous pro-Thaksin government — hit out at Thaksin’s comments.
Insulting or defaming the royal family is punishable by up to 15 years in jail in Thailand.
Just read the whole transcript, and it all seems a world away from the hysteria being generated by the government.
Thaksin appears to broken out into the open and it’s going to get very uncomfortable. Time to batten down the hatches if you live in Thailand. I don’t think you can count on this guy to make too many mistakes, and it does appear that Abhisit & Co are scared shitless right now.
Could be entertaining if you’re outside of the goldfish bowl looking in and not inside looking out.
I think MICT is blocking the story now. Anyone else redirected to MICT web site like I am? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6908493.ece
The transcript is not blocked.
Thanks, maverick – but I’ll stay with using my brain.
I read the transcript – and seem to have missed the “war path” evidence that you seem to have found. Rather than just entertain yourself with your pronouncements, perhaps you could enlighten the rest of us with some example of what you describe – both Thaksin’s “war path” and just how this site’s audience is deluding itself.
So if Thaksin didn’t say it then maybe the reporter Richard Lloyd Parry should be charged with Lese-Majeste,or/& the Times Online editor, &/or everyone that read the offending article – including YOU
TR is right: MICT has actually blocked the Parry article! What paranoia!
It doesn’t take them long to get a court order, does it? Or have they completely forgotten about that requirement?
TC PLEASE NOTE:
Thai government bans Thaksin Shinawatra interview with The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6909856.ece
The Thai government has banned an interview in The Times with the ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and warned that its security agencies will take “appropriate actions” against any media organisations which report his remarks about the country’s royal family.
A spokesman for the current Thai prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, warned journalists not to report the contents of the interview and hinted that the government would use the country’s draconian lèse majesté law, which imposes sentences of up to 12 years in jail for “insulting” the ailing King, Bhumibol Adulyadej, or his family.
Re:
Thai government bans Thaksin Shinawatra interview with The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6909856.ece
The last paragraph reads:
The text of the interview, posted on Times Online, matches the recording of the conversation and was transcribed by a press representative of Mr Thaksin. Unlike the news report, the transcript could still be viewed in Thailand this evening.
So shouldn’t the press representative of Mr Thaksin be charged with Lese-Majeste?
Oh, and every source(many)which is now reporting on the furore including The Nation and Bangkok Post?
In the eyes of the world Thailand looks more and more stupid.
if the democrats want to knock out thaksin they should let the interview be uncensored. it is so clear that thaksin has shot himself in the foot and it should be made public ( if u are sure it is lese majesty)..
in politics when yr enemy self destructs u want the whole country to see (unless u are unsure yrself).
unlike thaksin who can spin everything in his favor, abisit cannot even take advantage when the oppurtunity offers itself.
thaksin already said the times mis quoted him. if the censor lasts he can always say he did not insult the monarchy and thats y the democrats have censored the article, because they have nothing on him.
end of the day u have to play the cards u are dealt with but pm abisit is a amatuer.
“Ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra calls for ‘shining’ new age after King’s death” – that’s a very poor wording by Times, not wonder Thaksin is incensed.
Though Thaksin has made his preferences rather clear, he has never “called” for it.
For media savvy Thaksin this it’s the second shot in the head in one week and it would take months to erase these images from public memory, he just started recovering from Songkran and now this.
Poor old Thaksin (only two hundred million left, never declared).
In this case, I think both side is equally retarded, for Thaksin, why does he want to sue Times? You should know that Thais media hated you and your only potential friend is the foreign media, why on Earth do you want to pick a fight with your potential supporter? If I’m Thaksin I will just say “I didn’t insult the monarch” and end of speech, just keep quiet alrady!.
As for the Dem, even Thaksin’s breath is poisonous, take a hike and stop overreact with everything Thaksin does and concentrate on what you are suppose to do “run the darn country” if you cant do that then dont assume that Thai people are supporting you, because we are not!.
People die no one can deny that, except some bozo that went hallucinated (due to heavily propagandized) in Thailand who think a person can live forever, no, people cant live forever and it is important the Thais have to start to grow up and talk about the country’s future.
Phnom Pehn Airport Fast Lane
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/stories/news/national/2009/091113/091113_06.jpg