Fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is a typical politician, one who cannot resist the temptation of politics even though he has said he wants to quit the game. There will always be an excuse to justify a political comeback.
The headline in today’s edition of the Bangkok Post newspaper reads: “I don’t want to lead again, says Thaksin”. In the story, the fugitive politician in a rare interview given to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Lateline programme from his luxury home in Dubai, said there was no need for him to return to Thailand as a prime minister because his sister, Ms Yingluck, “is already there” (poised to become the next prime minister).
Thaksin went on declare that he wants only to teach and to play golf if he ever returns to his homeland.
“I just want to be a lecturer, that’s my dream. Playing golf. Giving guidance for my children – for their business endeavours. That’s what I really want to do.”
Readers' reactions to Thaksin’s interview, specifically the remark that he has no political ambition to regain the premiership, included straight disbelief, too good to be true, and yet another lie, to advising the Post to give people a break and just ignore the man in future.
The Bangkok Post story, a wire service story, missed out an important part of Thaksin’s interview regarding his political ambitions. In the full text of the interview with ABC’s Lateline, the interviewer Zoe Daniel continued to press the ex-prime minister about his stated intention, that he does not want lead the government again.
“So never, never would you come back and be prime minister again?” she asked Thaksin.
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About the author
- Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul
- Position: Former Editor
