BANGKOK - An audio clip which the Pitak Siam group claimed was the voice of fugitive former prime minsiter Thaksin Shinawatra insulting the monarchy was authentic, former Pitak Siam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit said on Monday.
Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, left, and Thaksin Shinawatra (Photos by Chanat Katanyu and Bloomberg)
Gen Boonlert, also known as Seh Ai, said the audio clip, played during the anti-government rally by Pitak Siam on Nov 24 was not doctored as claimed by the ousted premier during a speech in Macau screened live on TV Channel 11 on Sunday night.
The retired general said he was not afraid if Thaksin decided to sue him.
"I think that Thaksin is dying to return to Thailand and that he is selfish for using state-run TV, paid for by people's taxes, to express his 'loyalty' [to the monarchy].
"I suggest to him that he return home, pay respect to His Majesty the King, surrender and go to prison, and accept the Thai law, so he can then ask for a royal pardon," Gen Boonlert said.
He said he would not take legal action against the state-run NBT because he had no authority to do so, but he would continue the fight against Thaksin.
"If Thaksin wants to return home and is still rich, he can hire people to stage a coup for him," he said.