Sonthi has advice for Thaksin

Council for National Security (CNS) Chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said yesterday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra must think of the country's interests before anything else while he is in exile.

Sonthi gave an interview to Cable News Network (CNN) during which he was asked if he had anything to say to Thaksin. Asked the same question by reporters after the interview - which has not yet been broadcast - the general said he had only one short message for the former premier.

"I said he must first think how to properly show his love for the country in anything he will do. This is not just for him alone but the same for Thais anywhere," Sonthi said.

CNN yesterday interviewed Sonthi for about an hour. It aired an interview with Thaksin in its "Talk Asia" show about two weeks ago. The CNS, which was created by the junta that toppled Thaksin's government on September 19, responded with concern that the publicity given to what Thaksin said could cause disunity while efforts to restore the country's political stability were underway.

Sonthi also told CNN that the lifting of martial law in 41 provinces officially took effect yesterday after the action was announced in the Royal Gazette. The interim Cabinet installed by the military council approved the partial abolition of martial law on November 28.

"Without martial law, troops are no longer empowered to conduct an immediate search of areas of security risk. Only police can do that, under a court's approval," he said.

According to Sonthi, his interview yesterday covered several subjects, including the investigations of the bombing incidents in Bangkok on New Years Eve, progress in the constitution drafting process and the interim government's reaction to Singapore's hosting of a meeting between Thaksin and its deputy prime minister.

Asked by CNN if he had been in direct contact with Thaksin since the coup, Sonthi said no - adding that he had only spoken with people close to the former premier.

On the bombing probes, the general said the CNS was not involved in the investigations that led to the detention of a number of military personnel and civilians for questioning earlier this month.

Of the 19 men taken into police custody over the past week, 18 have been released. Sonthi earlier said the national police chief must take responsibility if any "scapegoats" were taken as suspects.

On the constitution, Sonthi said the CNS had no role in the drafting process, which would be under the exclusive responsibility of the Constitution Drafting Committee.

The Nation Thailand
Saturday January 27, 2007