Thread: Thaksin talks

Defiant Thaksin denies junta's corruption allegations


Deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra denied allegations of corruption and abuse of power in an interview broadcast Saturday, in an apparent attempt to undermine the rationale for his ouster.



A defiant Thaksin told CNN that the junta, which overthrew his elected government on September 19, had yet to provide any evidence of illegal activity during his premiership despite its best efforts.

"(They are) baseless allegations, it's just a political tool. And I cooperate very well with all relevant agencies, but now they still cannot find any evidence against me," he said.

Military leaders have repeatedly justified their bloodless coup by saying widespread corruption during Thaksin's five years in office undermined democracy and divided the kingdom.

"I never bend the rules," said billionaire businessman Thaksin, who has been accused of corruption, nepotism, fixing elections and heavy-handed tactics against separatist insurgents and drug dealers.

"Everything is through the rule of law, not just trying to set up my own law, set up my own rules, no, I'm not a dictator," he added.

Thaksin insisted that he obeyed the law during a controversial business deal involving Shin Corp, the telecom giant he founded.

Thaksin's family sold their 49 percent stake in Shin Corp to Singapore's state-linked Temasek holdings for 1.9 billion dollars under a tax-free deal in January 2006.

The deal triggered months of street protests demanding Thaksin's resignation over alleged corruption, culminating in the putsch. Investigations into the sale are still underway.

"In selling equity through the stock exchange, it's tax exempt by law," Thaksin told CNN.

"It's not because of you are a prime minister or not prime minister you have to pay tax or not pay tax. The law said that you don't have (to)," he added.

In the interview -- blocked by Thailand's main cable operator UBC following a request by the junta -- Thaksin said he was ready to return to Thailand to answer the allegations in court.

The toppled leader appeared to be rubbing salt into the wounds of the junta, which has faced criticism for not yet proving any wrongdoing against Thaksin, despite reviving key anti-graft bodies.

Junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin in October said investigators had failed to uncover solid evidence of corruption. Investigations are ongoing.

Thaksin also said he did not regret his policies in the Muslim-majority south, where his heavy-handed tactics were blamed for exacerbating a three-year separatist insurgency which has killed more than 1,800 people.

"For those terrorists you have to use iron fist ... sometimes they just try to focus on my iron fist, but actually I have done a lot on the velvet glove side," he told CNN.

In excerpts of the interview first broadcast Monday night, Thaksin denied involvement in the December 31 bombs that killed three and injured dozens in Bangkok, and said he had had enough of politics.

But although Thaksin claims he has no intention of returning to politics, the South China Morning Post reported Friday that he had engaged the services of a top Washington political lobby group.

Thaksin has remained in exile since the coup, hopping between Europe and Asia.

When in Singapore last week, the twice-elected leader conducted the interview with CNN and met a deputy prime minister, prompting Thailand to issue a strong rebuke to the city-state.

Asked about why he was in Singapore, Thaksin replied: "Well you know I travelled here to play golf. And (meet) some old friends."

The government revoked Thaksin's diplomatic passport on January 10, while the junta issued a warning against broadcasting Thaksin's statements.

"Sometimes they worry too much about me," Thaksin told CNN.

Thaksin arrived in Japan on Thursday night, where his lawyer said he would spend up to five days.

Agence France-Presse