The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has hit back at former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying that he should stop "distorting the truth" and return to the country to face justice.
In a firm rebuttal of Thaksin's criticism of the military government, NCPO spokesman Col Piyapong Klinpan yesterday said Thaksin's criticism was only based on the emotions of a man far away from home.
"If the former prime minister wants the country to prosper and progress, he can help by respecting the justice system and accepting a court ruling," Col Piyapan said.
If Thaksin believes he is innocent, he should return and prove himself because the country's justice system operates independently of the NCPO, the spokesman said.
Currently, the government and the public are working together to foster reconciliation and the efforts to restore unity are making good progress, Col Piyapan added.
Even members of the anti-coup United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship are also willing to support the unity bid by cancelling a plan to hold an event to mark the April 10, 2010, clashes between red-shirt demonstrators and government forces at Khok Wua intersection, Col Piyapan added.
"Mr Thaksin should stop harming the country, show restraint and stop distorting information. If Mr Thaksin calls for justice from society, Mr Thaksin should give justice to society, too," the NCPO spokesman said.
Thaksin took to Facebook on Friday to strongly criticise the military government for slandering him, alleging he is behind a recent string of "bad incidents" in the country.
His family has also fallen victim to persecution and mudslinging. The latest is the tax dispute regarding the Shin Corp share sale, he added.
He called on the government not to use him as an excuse to stay in power.
Responding to Thaksin, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda yesterday said everyone is treated equally and fairly under the same law and that no one is singled out for political persecution as claimed by Thaksin.
Alongkorn Polabutr, deputy chairman of the National Reform Steering Assembly, said Thaksin is not in position to bargain. He must be under the same law as other Thai citizens and he must separate politics from his legal cases, which need to be finalised in court.
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a key Pheu Thai Party figure, yesterday said all those involved should stop worrying about Thaksin so they can move on and restore national unity. She insisted Pheu Thai had never proposed a political amnesty and said the rule of law must be upheld.
Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, said he gathered that Thakisn only wanted national unity to be restored, and for the government to succeed in solving the country's problems.
Mr Noppadon added that sticking to the rule of law to ensure justice will also bolster government efforts to foster national unity.