Sonthi: Thaksin can still pull political strings

The Sunday Times, March 4, 2007


THAI General Sonthi Boonyarataglin has brushed aside former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's vow to quit politics.

In an exclusive interview with Time magazine, he said Mr Thaksin would still be able to control politics from behind the scenes.

'The most important thing in politics is money. If you have cash, you can have somebody do things for you,' he said.

'I believe that even if he (Mr Thaksin) says he is not entering politics, he can still control political parties.'

The general, who led a Sept19 coup that ousted the former premier, told Time he is 'absolutely' confident that corruption charges will eventually be brought against Mr Thaksin and defended the Thai government's delay in making such a move.

He said this was because the organisation tasked to probe the charges is a small agency - and it will be kept that way to reduce the possibility of spies infiltrating the investigation.

He added that elections will be held by the end of the year and reiterated that the military will withdraw from the political scene after the polls.

Gen Sonthi also dismissed speculation that the army will field a candidate through a proxy party.