Sonthi to Thaksin: Think of the country

The Straits Times, January 28, 2007


BANGKOK - THAI army chief Sonthi Boonyarataglin said that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra must think of the country's interests before anything else while he is in exile.

General Sonthi, who is chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), gave an interview to Cable News Network (CNN) on Friday during which he was asked if he had anything to say to Mr Thaksin.

Speaking to reporters after the interview - which is scheduled to be aired tomorrow - Gen Sonthi said he had only one short message for the ousted premier:

'I said he must first think how to properly show his love for the country in anything he will do. This is not just for him alone but the same for Thais anywhere.'

According to Gen Sonthi, his interview covered several subjects, including investigations into the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok, progress in drafting of the Constitution and Bangkok's reaction to Singapore's hosting of a meeting between Mr Thaksin and its Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar.

He said the CNS has no role in the drafting process for the Constitution, and is not involved in the investigations into the bombings.

The Nation/Asia News Network, AFP