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Thai Talk
Analysis and comments on political and current affairs
Permalink : http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ThaiTalk
Thursday , September 10 , 2009
Abhisit and Thaksin: Never the twain shall meet
Posted by Yoon , Reader : 1010 , 05:01:15  
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I must confess I am at my wit's end. Despite my utmost efforts, I can't really figure it out what to make of this highly significant political riddle.

Perhaps you can tell me whether an Abhisit-Thaksin summit (off the record or otherwise) could take place at all after you have digested the nuances and subtleties that I have managed to extract from the current prime minister and ex-premier.

This was my exchange with PM Abhisit during a "Twitter interview" on Monday night on this particular subject:

Q: Thaksin says he is ready to talk to you. Will you talk to him?

A: I thought he said he wouldn't talk to me.

Q: He said he was ready ... but he didn't know who to talk to.

A: You see?

Q: Aren't you trying to play hard to get?

A: No, it has nothing to do with my personal feelings. My duty is to follow the law. Khun Thaksin must abide by the law like everyone else.

Q: A Twitter follower has a question for you: If you had a face-to-face meeting with Thaksin, what would you tell him?

A: I will tell him to come under the law - and then society will think about forgiveness.

Q: Does that mean that if Thaksin didn't come back to serve his jail term, you wouldn't talk to him?

A: I want everyone to respect the law.

Q: Mr Abhisit, you are not answering my question.

A: If you read carefully, the answer is there.

Q: Can I presume it's the way I interpret it?

A: Probably, yes.

Q: If I invite both of you for a chat, would you come?

A: Khun Thaksin wouldn't come. You and I are in Thailand.

Q: Well, we can chat through Twitter

A: The number of permissible characters [on Twitter] is too small.

Q: Brevity may at times be better. Lengthy talk may lead to the trouble we are facing today.

A: Some things need to go in-depth. We can't be superficial about it.

Q: That means both sides continue to speculate on the other's direction then?

A: No one needs to guess my direction. I am interested only in the country's direction, and to do the right things.

The next day, Thaksin wrote in his Twitter account:

"Mr Abhisit says I don't want to meet him. Who wouldn't want to meet the prime minister? But I also realise that Khun Abhisit is very busy with lots of problems. I can wait."

On the same evening, Thaksin went on his Internet radio programme, repeating the same theme, adding:

"I am ready to work together (with anyone) for the country's sake … but the main condition is that there must be justice for me."

There you are. Perhaps the two aren't meant to meet anytime soon anyway.

What it boils down to, I presume, is this:

Thaksin wants to tell Abhisit: "I will return only after an amnesty."

Abhisit in turn might want to make it loud and clear: "Come home. No one can stop you. I will visit you in jail."


Read comment

comment 6
wch date : 10/09/2009 time : 10.42
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/wch

Sr Ole Ps, what are you talking about ?
This blog matches his hospital ward with a silk twine rounding monks and guests, with AV holding it...
You may continue from this thread,,,,,emmm
comment 5
peacefulness date : 10/09/2009 time : 10.25


wch C4 "K.Thaksin can talk by letter from his ward."
comment 4
wch date : 10/09/2009 time : 09.13
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/wch

K.Thaksin can talk by letter from his ward.
comment 3
dryshrimp date : 10/09/2009 time : 07.47
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/dryshrimp

An enjoyable reading of this morning.
comment 2
massein date : 10/09/2009 time : 07.40
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/massein

why chould a government figure talk to a criminal, other than to read him his rights
under a consitution
comment 1
notdisappointed date : 10/09/2009 time : 05.44


Since thaksin, although in denial, is the instigator and main cause of all this divisiveness and instability in the country he should show his sincerity to cease and desist all his activities, be it through the reds, puea thai, jakrapop/giles, DTV/publications, and others. Only then we will know that he wishes honest and sincere dialogue.

As it is he is holding Thailand hostage for his own self-serving agenda.

Show remorse/regret, come home, spend some time in prison, then get an amnesty. And if he has cancer, the amnesty will be given in perhaps half year time.

If he cannot do this then let him rot in his jet-set travels to backwards countries who need his money and will turn a blind eye to his crimes. Countries with immature democratic system and weak rule of law will gladly accept his money.
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