The Thai junta leader Wednesday mocked the naming of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as head of the Professional Golf Association of Thailand. "It's ridiculous. I think Thais are in a confused condition. Some may not be able to separate what is good from what is bad. Perhaps we should ask a psychiatrist to help them," General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said in the Nation newspaper.
The PGAT on Tuesday unveiled Thaksin as its new president, despite the fact that the fallen premier has been living in exile since his government was toppled in September. But other Thaksin critics warned against underestimating golf's political clout, and said Thaksin's move to the head of the PGAT could mark an effort to return to the political limelight.
"Politicians and golf courses can't be divided. When Thaksin was PM, he made decisions about many projects on the golf course," said Suriyasai Katasila, who helped lead street protests against Thaksin last year.
"Either golf or football was linked to a network of politically influential groups," he said in the Nation. The ousted premier reportedly has also made a surprise bid worth 108 million pounds (215 million dollar) to buy English Premier League football club Manchester City, following a failed bid for Liverpool three years ago.