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Thaksin not to seek office

SINGAPORE: Buoyed by the results of the “democracy-restoring” election in Thailand, the deposed Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, wants to return home. He is in self-imposed exile since the military coup against him 15 months ago.

Speaking in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Mr. Thaksin clarified that his objective was “not to take [up] political position” in the post-poll dispensation in Thailand.

Pro-Thaksin People’s Power Party (PPP), proxy of the deposed leader, on Monday staked claim to form a coalition government on the basis of its “majority” in the unofficial results of the general election held a day earlier. But the possible contours of a potential coalition, led by either the newly-formed PPP or even the long-established Democrat Party that trailed it, remained far from clear even on Tuesday.

Mr. Thaksin, indicating his intention to return to Bangkok by mid-February next year in time for the anticipated formation of an elected government, quipped that he would, if asked, offer “ideas” to it “free of charge.”

His assumption was that the PPP would lead that government.

In a reference to the coup-masters — Sonthi Boonyaratglin and the military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont — Mr. Thaksin said: “We are not going to go back [to Thailand] to create more conflict or revenge.”

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