Kasit: Thaksin interview offensive

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made very offensive references to the monarchy in an interview with The Times published online today and gave inaccurate, misleading information, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Monday.

Thaksin was interviewed by the Asia editor of The Times, Richard Parry, at his home in Dubai and the transcript was published on the Timesonline  website on Nov 9.

The foreign minister said he found many of Thaksin's comments in the interview to be strongly offensive, inaccurate and unacceptable by the majority of people.

The interview reflected Thaksin's uneasiness about not being able to persuade people to be on his side, Mr Kasit said. He believed Thaksin, in giving the interview, had a hidden objective.

The Foreign Ministry would issue a statement to the foreign media setting the facts straight, he said.

The Justoice Ministry would decide whether Thaksin would be charged with lese majeste, Mr Kasit said.

Mr Kasit confirmed that the government would request Thaksin's extradition if he visits Cambodia this week, as announced,  Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen would be asked to think the matter over very carefully before rejecting the request - as he has said he would.