Thailand's coup leader on Friday hinted the country's army-backed government could propose an amnesty to allow top leaders of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's party to return to public office.
Comments by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who overthrew Thaksin in September 2006, came two days after a court banned Thaksin and 110 party leaders from politics for five years and disbanded his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party. Asked by an interviewer about granting an amnesty to 111 TRT executives, Sonthi told government-owned television Channel 11 that he "did not object to the idea."
"I want to see Thai people united and reconcile. I have discussed this amnesty issue" with army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Sonthi said. Surayud had yet to respond, he said. While suggesting Thaksin's possible return to politics, Sonthi stressed that the deposed former premier first had to clear a corruption case.
Last month the Assets Examination Committee, a powerful anti-corruption body set up by the junta, recommended for the first time that Thaksin and his wife Pojaman should face charges over a controversial land purchase.
The attorney general will decide within weeks whether to bring the case to court. The military has justified last year's bloodless coup by saying Thaksin was corrupt and that it would probe alleged graft during his five years in office. Thaksin has remained self-exile since the army toppled his twice-elected government. From London, where he currently lives, he sent a hand-written letter saying he apologised to supporters after his party was dissolved and he and other TRT leaders were banned from politics over election law violations.
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