Chavalit: All in the national interest

Published: 27/10/2009 at 04:49 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh insisted on Tuesday his visit to Cambodia was all for the national interest and had nothing to do with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Gen Chavalit was widely criticised and accused of worsening the political situation and Thai-Cambodian relations following his one-day visit to Phnom Penh to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen last week.

"I respect those who criticised me, but I believe they do not understand my actions. I haven't had the chance to explain yet but there should be no problems," the Puea Thai Party chairman said.

Gen Chavalit insisted he travelled to Cambodia to promote bilateral trade and help eases tensions after he received a proposal from the border committee.

"I'll have to be more careful in my work now my role has been criticised. I know those who criticised me and I will find a chance to talk to them," he said.

The leader-in-waiting of the opposition party said he would visit the five southernmost provinces next Tuesday for briefings on the continuing separatist insurgency and planned to later visit Malaysia and Burma.

Gen Chavalit said he would wait for an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak before heading to Kuala Lumpur for talks.. He had known the Malaysian premier since when they were both defence ministers.

"I'll visit Malaysia and Burma to see my old friends and there is no hidden agenda," he said.

Puea Thai MP for Samut Prakan Pracha Prasopdee revealed that the party had 200,000 Thaksin rubber masks to distribute.

"The party will give out the masks to people so they can welcome someone who is expected to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport next Monday," Mr Pracha said.

The MP refused to reveal the person's identity.

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skin

Discussion 8 : 28/10/2009 at 06:01 PM8
WOW , A Personal Visit On Hen Sens Offer Hey, NOTHING POLITICAL ??? What a BLATENT LIAR , Thailand need`s to rid it`spolitical arena of ALL Corrupt OLD Lying Phuyai`s !!!
Charlie

Discussion 7 : 28/10/2009 at 01:20 AM7
Its one thing to pretend to help the country while filling your pockets .Its quite another to come back and try to destroy it so you can go back to filling your pockets .This shameless lazy man has made a career out of destroying the country .How is it that he can still have the nerve to show his face ?
wal

Discussion 6 : 28/10/2009 at 12:50 AM6
Mr. Chavalit is retired.

This expalnation business is not wanted after all the hurts.

Chavalit is a senior politician. He was fortunate enough to be PM. But not so fortunate as a PM.

Mr. Chavalit as a PM could have achieved. But now at this advanced age let him allow chance for young people.

Mr. Chavalit should note, statements are allways cunning,and its age old political oral achievements of a politician which MR. Chavalit has to forget. He should stay retired. What all he achieved, and respected for is- it is.

Mr. Chavalit has to distinguish between a political leader and a businessman.

Mr. Thaksin is a Businessman. He is good as a business man. Mr. Chavalit has to stop in this understanding. Using political platform by a business man is distructive for the country.

We dont want explanations and we want proper conduct from an Ex elderly politician and a general (who fought no wars to protect the country)

Mr. Chavalit should know that going to temples will not uplift his image.

Why dot you advice Thaksin that you are good doing business.
But Mr. Chavalit wanted second incarnation with Thaksin. A moneyed man.
Mr. Chavalit is doing social sins.
Musang

Discussion 5 : 27/10/2009 at 11:11 PM5
Agree with you Anam! Most people sees it but some can see at all!
Truelyunbias

Discussion 4 : 27/10/2009 at 10:23 PM4
General Chavalit did not worsen the condition with PM Hun Sen, PAD and this government does. General is visiting as a personal friend. PM Hun Sen and Thaksin was friend for long time, and I can bet that each and everything happen to Mr. Thaksin, PM Hun Sen know about it already. The relationship between this government and PM Hun Sen does not spoiled over night, its gotten spoiled during PAD rally, and numous threaten from this government in the past, plus many their of people had been killed by Thai soldiers. All these actions was accumulated to pointed where PM Hun Sen can't be polited anymore...His out spoken is just a freedom of expression in his opinion which most democracy country do have freedom of speech. I don't see how General Chavalit can spoiled anything just one visit!
Anam

Discussion 3 : 27/10/2009 at 09:32 PM3
"General Chavalit was widely criticised and accused..........."

No he wasn't......

He was widely criticised by a small minority in the current non-representative Govt. who would like to hide their Thaksin paranoia.

No amount of media inflation of so-called criticism hides the above facts.
Mike Baringtor

Discussion 2 : 27/10/2009 at 08:40 PM2
A more accurate title to this article would be:

Shovelit: All in his own interests.
Django Peg

Discussion 1 : 27/10/2009 at 06:51 PM1
Is this the Chavalit who was on watch when the 1997 crash happened? I wouldn't trust him with the remote. The opposition deserve him...he is not the future of Thailand.

Chavalit: All in the national interest