Thai Industrialist Foresees “Political Turmoil” If Samak PM

Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 24 December

[Unattributed report from the "General News" page: "Industrial sector not in favour of Samak"]

Santi Wilassakdanon, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, believes that political turmoil would grip the country again if People Power party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej was made the next prime minister, as anti-Thaksin groups might resume their political campaign against the PPP. Political confrontations between the PPP and anti-Thaksin groups would then hurt investor confidence again, he said.

“We might have to go through another general election,” said Mr Santi.

Mr Santi prefers to see the Democrat party in the driving seat since the second highest vote-getter is also in a position to cobble together a coalition government.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said the CPD will hand deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra an envelope containing a set of three demands when he returns to Thailand.

Mr Suriyasai welcomed a report that the former prime minister could be planning to return to Thailand on Valentine’s Day. He said upon Mr Thaksin’s arrival, his group would hand him a letter containing the three demands.

The group’s three demands are that Mr Thaksin prove his innocence in court against corruption allegations, agree to pay a 20 billion baht tax on the revenue earned from the sale of Shin Corp shares, and apologise to the relatives of victims of the extra-judicial killings in the three southernmost provinces.

Mr Suriyasai said no one has ever prohibited Mr Thaksin from returning from his self-imposed exile.

People want him back so that he can prove himself in court.

He said a recent announcement by PPP’s party-list candidate Chalerm Yubamrung that Mr Thaksin will return on Feb 14 if PPP emerges with a majority of House seats was only a psychological ploy to make voters cast their votes in favour of the PPP.

If PPP had not won the most House seats, Mr Suriyasai said he believed Mr Thaksin would not return and would claim he feared for his life.

Originally published by Bangkok Post website, Bangkok, in English 24 Dec 07.

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