Lucky decision, but welcome, people say

Replacing him would have been difficult

Anjira Assavanonda

Most people seemed to welcome the Constitutional Court verdict which cleared Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday, though many conceded he was lucky to have survived.

Charin Yuennarn, 43, said he was pleased, although personally he thought the prime minister was guilty.

"Frankly, it's quite obvious Mr Thaksin intentionally hid his wealth, but I'm still glad that the verdict turned out this way. "Imagine what would happen if he had to leave office and we got a person like Mr Banharn [Silpa-archa] or Gen Chavalit [Yongchaiyudh] as his replacement. "What Mr Thaksin did involved neither corruption nor cheating the country, and if I were a rich businessman like him, I would probably do the same thing," he said.

He was concerned for political reform and the credibility of the Constitutional Court, but thought the reform process had only just begun and there was still time for more adjustments.

Vendor Bunchai Charthiran, 52, said he was relieved. Prior to the ruling, he had thought Mr Thaksin would be found guilty, judging by the way things were going.

"Finding a suitable person to fill his shoes would have been very difficult. At this moment, I can see no one better than him," he said.

Kung, 35, a housewife, said she did not know much about legal principles, and could not tell whether Mr Thaksin was guilty or not. However, she was delighted he finally won the case.

"I can't imagine what would happen tomorrow if Mr Thaksin was no longer the prime minister. "Survival of the majority should come first. Everybody in the country has been waiting for this day," she said.

"Thai people had lost hope. When someone comes along to give us hope, we just cling to that person. It's not uncommon that we see him as being right for whatever wrong he did."Kittikhun Mankhuntham said he always expected the verdict to be not guilty and totally agreed with it.

Looking at the mess the country is in, he could not see who else could replace Mr Thaksin if he was forced to quit.

Admiring the prime minister for his quick decision-making and clear-cut policies, Mit, 36, said the verdict was justified and did not surprise him.

"I was quite sure that he would survive. Having Mr Thaksin as prime minister is better than having Mr Chuan [Leekpai]," he said.

He also viewed the prime minister's assets case as a personal matter which had nothing to do with his political career.

"He has just started working for the country, and we should give him more time to prove himself," he said.