Thaksin condemns Times online for false reporting
Thaksin condemns Times online for false reporting
Fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra claimed on Monday that the interview published on Times online was a total lie and distorted, adding that it had caused misunderstanding among readers and Thais.
He was referring to the interview conducted in Dubai by Richard Parry, whose article was published with a headline that touched upon the royal successor.
In an urgent statement, Thaksin claimed the headline was totally unfounded and that he had never touched up on the subject during the interview.
“I did not say anything like that,” he said.
He also denied that he said that he had “called for reform of the country’s revered monarchy and spoken of a ’shining’ new age after the era of the ailing King, Bhumibol Adulyadej”.
He reiterated that he never had never spoken to the press about the monarchy, adding that he has always been loyal and protective of the royals, and believed they should never be linked to politics.
He said the article was a lie and caused confusion, adding that he had told the journalist several times that the monarchy issue was very sensitive and that the report should be as accurate as possible.
“I condemn Times online for reporting lies and causing confusion on the matter. I want everyone to know that I and my family are loyal to Their Majesties and are ready to sacrifice our lives,” he said.
Full 12 page article here
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 that report his remarks about the country’s royal family.
A spokesman for Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, 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 king or his family.
Internet users in Thailand said last night that it was impossible to access the news article, in which Thaksin spoke of his hopes for his country after the death of the revered King, Bhumibol Adulyadej. It is not clear whether this is a result of censorship but the Ministry of Information routinely blocks web pages that are deemed to contain information unflattering to the monarchy.
According to the Bangkok Post, Thepthai Senpong, Mr Abhisit’s spokesman, said that “the comments in the interview were offensive to the royal institution”. He added that the ruling Democrat Party would recommend “appropriate action” by the Government and security agencies against media that report the interview.
“I would like to say that Thaksin’s interview violates the monarchy, which is the country’s main institution,” Kasit Piromya, the Thai Foreign Minister, told reporters in Bangkok. “I wonder what the hidden agenda was that caused him to make this inappropriate move. In his interview, there are several parts referring to His Majesty the King, the Crown Prince and the monarchy, and [they] also refer to His Majesty’s role in politics.”
He said that the Justice Ministry would consider whether to charge Thaksin with lèse-majesté on top of the two-year prison sentence imposed upon him in absentia for a land deal transacted during his five years as Prime Minister.
The controversy over the interview focuses on Thaksin’s remarks about Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. He emphasised his loyalty to King Bhumibol, who has been in hospital for seven weeks but spoke of his hopes for a lesspoliticised royal palace after the king’s passing.
Mr Thaksin issued a statement saying that The Times’s report was “distorted” and “untrue”. 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.
Mr Kasit said that Thailand would begin extradition proceedings against Mr Thaksin today, as he arrives in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. It will be his first time back in the region since fleeing in August last year, and the trip is aggravating tensions between the neighbours
Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted Prime Minister of Thailand and opposition leader in exile, has called for reform of the country’s revered monarchy and spoken of a “shining” new age after the era of the ailing King, Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Mr Thaksin’s remarks, which touch on taboo areas of Thai politics, come as he prepares to return to South-East Asia from exile in a move which has caused turmoil in Bangkok. He plans to arrive in Cambodia, Thailand’s neighbour, tomorrow, on a visit which has caused an intense row between the countries.
The appointment of Mr Thaksin as an “adviser” by Hun Sen, the Cambodian Prime Minister, has angered and humiliated Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Thai Prime Minister, and raised suspicions that Mr Thaksin is plotting a political comeback from a base in Cambodia.
The two countries have withdrawn their ambassadors and there are fears of military skirmishes along the disputed border, following clashes last year.
Mr Thaksin’s remarks about the monarchy are further evidence that, three years after being forced out as democratically elected Prime Minister in a military coup, he is still contemplating a political future in Thailand. His remarks also suggest that he is placing hope in the man likely to accede to the throne, Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Crown Prince.
“He’s not the King yet. He may not be shining [now],” Mr Thaksin told The Times in an interview from his exile in the Arabian Gulf city of 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.”
Mr Thaksin was the most popular — and the most divisive — Prime Minister in his country’s recent history. Since the coup in 2006 Thailand has been torn by frequently violent demonstrations by his “Red Shirt” supporters and the “Yellow Shirts” who oppose him in the name of King Bhumibol.
The King has not explicitly endorsed their movement but many of Mr Thaksin’s supporters believe the coup could not have happened without his consent.
Mr Thaksin is careful to emphasise deep loyalty to King Bhumibol but is deeply critical of the “palace circle”; principally, members of the Privy Council. He blames them, along with senior generals, for the coup. King Bhumibol quickly accepted the coup and has ignored a petition signed by 3.5 million Thais to pardon Mr Thaksin. However, the King has been in hospital for seven weeks, reportedly suffering from pneumonia, and Thais are looking ahead with trepidation to life after his reign.
Prince Vajiralongkorn is the King’s designated heir but is unpopular with many Thais because of rumours about his private life. Supporters of Mr Thaksin have told The Times that by endorsing the Crown Prince and lending some of his own personal popularity he hopes to gain the support of a future monarch who will not interfere with his political ambitions. “The Crown Prince may not be as popular as His Majesty the King,” Mr Thaksin told The Times. “However, he will have fewer problems because the palace circle will be smaller . . . He had education abroad and he’s young — I think he understands the modern world.”
Mr Thaksin, who was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for corruption, insists he does not intend to settle in Cambodia — but even his temporary presence there, close to Thailand’s north-east, where he enjoys passionate support, is deeply discomforting for Mr Abhisit.
TIMES ONLINE
Audio recording of interview requested
The government yesterday requested an audio recording of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s interview with the British-based Times Online website.
The move was aimed at investigating his claim he was misquoted in a later report regarding what he said about His Majesty the King and the monarchy.
PM’s Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said he had sent a letter to Times Online requesting the recording to determine whether there had been a misinterpretation of Thaksin’s words or if he really made remarks described by critics as offensive to the monarchy.
“We’ll try to prove who really told the truth and who distorted the facts,” Satit said.
He said the Thai ambassador in London had explained to Times Online the matter was a sensitive one for Thai public feeling, as it involved the monarchy, and added the embassy would also send a written explanation.
The Web page containing the report was blocked in Thailand early yesterday by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry. A message appeared that said: “This URL has been blocked by court order, as it could have an effect on, or be against, the security of the Kingdom, public order or good morals.”
The page could be accessed in the evening. The Web page carrying the script of the interview was not blocked.
Times Online earlier reported the Thai government had banned the interview with Thaksin and warned its security agencies would take “appropriate action” against any media organisations reporting his remarks about the Royal Family.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned journalists not to report contents of the interview and hinted the government would use the country’s lese-majeste law.
Internet users in Thailand on Monday night said it was not possible to access the news article, in which Thaksin spoke to the website, The Times reported.
Special Branch police were working with the ICT Ministry in an investigation into Thaksin’s interview with Times Online, Royal Thai Police spokesman Lt-General Pongsapat Pongcharoen said.
Meanwhile, a group of Senators and representatives from the Siam Samakkhi Group yesterday filed a lese-majeste complaint at Dusit police station against Thaksin; Times Online; its Asia editor, Richard Lloyd Parry, who wrote the article; academic Ji Ungpakorn; and the Red Siam website.
Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, one of the complainants, said Ji and Red Siam were named in the complaint because they had circulated the offensive article.
In a related development, People’s Network for Democracy secretary-general Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said his group had issued a statement denouncing Thaksin. He also called on the government to expedite the process of having Thaksin extradited to Thailand.
Timesonline refuses to release Thaksin interview tape to Thailand
BANGKOK: — A British daily has “unofficially” turned down a request by the Thai government to hand over its taped interview with fugitive, ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier this month which is thought to contain material considered offensive to the monarchy, according to Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Satit Wonghnongtaey.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Mr. Satit said the daily did not provide a reason why it could not provide the taped interview of Mr. Thaksin and said only that it was its right not to comply with the request. Mr. Satit said he had again ordered officials to send a request again and ask the daily to “reply officially” as the article had hurt the feelings of the Thai people.
The interview was conducted in Dubai where Mr. Thaksin is staying in self-imposed exile and was conducted by Richard Lloyd Parry, a British foreign correspondent who is Tokyo-based Asia editor of The Times of London.