Date – September 3, 2010

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has given an interview to Thai Rath newspaper. The following is the second part of an excerpt from the interview.

Thai Rath: What is the chance that Puea Thai Party will win in the next election?

Thaksin: At the moment, I am not confident that this government will dare to dissolve the parliament, because it knows very well that it will lose in the election after the dissolution.

Thai Rath: If Puea Thai won the next election, would you still be worried about a coup?

Thaksin: Probably, as the rules of the game are still like this. The society is now aware that the past action [of Mr. Thaksin’s opponent] was an action of shameless double standards. If they still want to do it again, we will assume that the people will “insist” again. It is all right if they want to do it again, because the people will continue to “insist”.

Thai Rath: If Puea Thai received the victory, would you return as the prime minister?

Thaksin: I am not interested in whether or not I would become the prime minister again. As long as Thailand is democratic, I think it is a country that is attractive to live in. As I am a person who loves his country, I would like to return and live there. Let it be a matter for the people who support me whether they will make me serve them again or not. If you ask if I want to be something, I would say I am happy at the moment and do not want to be anything. However, if it is something that I must do in order to return the favor to the people, or if I am allowed to do something that is beneficial to the country or the people, I can do that. However, if it is not necessary, I would like to ask to be allowed to live this way.

Thai Rath: If it is possible that you can negotiate with those in power in this administration, who do you think you should talk to in order to resolve the conflict?

Thaksin: Hmm. I can talk to anyone except the “tigers, lions, wild bulls, and rhinoceroses” (Thai terms for savvy individuals).

Thai Rath: If Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was the one who initiated the negotiation, would there be a possibility?

Thaksin: As I told you, I can talk to anyone.  

Thai Rath: In the period leading to the event on September 19, were you aware that the soldiers would stage a coup in that period?

Thaksin: I… was aware that there was dissatisfaction. There were attempts, but I did not know the details, because my intelligence unit was horrible. The intelligence operations were extremely horrible. Also, I had been abroad for too long. If I were in Thailand in that period, there would not be a coup, although I am confident that the assassination attempts would continue to occur.

Thai Rath: Will you be able to join hands with [Bhumjaithai Party de facto leader] Newin Chidchob again?

Thaksin: I will not talk about that because I am not a politician anymore.

Thai Rath: Have you ever been worried that the people who used to be your opponents but later joined the fight of the red-shirt group would actually be a political spy?

Thaksin: This is a matter for the red-shirt leaders. I do not know about it. I have never been involved with them in any details. We only talk about the political ideology rather than the details, which I do not get involved.