EDITORIAL
Unless Thaksin Shinawatra changes his mind at the last minute, the deposed prime minister will be addressing his red-shirted supporters at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok tomorrow from the safety of his London retreat, thanks to modern technology.
Tens of thousands of Thaksin admirers, including several banned executives of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai party, are expected to attend the special event organised by the pro-Thaksin and pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).
The event featuring Thaksin as the keynote speaker will be conducted by three moderators of the state-run NBT television station's The Truth Today programme, who are also UDD core leaders.
The event organisers have claimed that the programme will not be provocative. That remains to be seen. Should it turn out otherwise, the UDD must be held accountable.
There is widespread concern that Thaksin - who has been jailed for two years in absentia by the Supreme Court - might, intentionally or inadvertently, say something deemed offensive or provocative that could exacerbate the current tense political atmosphere.
This concern is shared by Supreme Commander Songkitti Chakkrabat, who said yesterday that the programme could be potentially provocative.
Academics themselves are divided about whether or not the phone-in programme should be allowed to be broadcast on television.
Those who agree with the programme feel that the former premier should be free to express his views and that any attempt to censor or stop the programme would go against the principle of free expression.
Moreover, they contend that it is better to know what Thaksin is thinking on certain sensitive issues - for instance, what he actually meant when he told the foreign media recently that the "privileged elites [in Thailand]" were ganging up on him.
Like him or hate him, Thaksin still commands widespread support and loyalty among the grassroots people, especially in the North and Northeast despite the fact that he was ousted from power in a military putsch two years ago.
And he still wields substantial influence over the direction of Thai politics today.
With great anxiety, all eyes will be watching and ears pricked to hear what Thaksin says tomorrow.
Of course, the destiny of our country should not depend on the actions of one man alone. But as former prime minister Anand Panyarachun recently said, Thaksin is the only person who can unlock our political impasse.
So, the self-exiled former premier (and absconding criminal) can, if he wishes, be helpful in solving Thailand's political problem.
Since Thaksin is free to express his views and to open his heart, it all depends on what he himself decides to say to his supporters. And since he is smart and mature enough, he should know what to say and what not to say in public that could further hurt his wounded motherland, which he professes to love so dearly. It is his own choice, whether he wants to be remembered as a villain or a hero.
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