Thaksin warns of 'country in flames'

20 Jan, 2010
Bangkok Post

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday night again accused the Abhisit administration of a double standard on law enforcement.

“An activist who fought for landless farmers in the South, Somporn Pattanaphum, was shot dead but the government has done nothing to resolve problems of poor farmers.

“Instead, the Democrat-led administration has provided protection for the person who encroached on a forest reserve. If such double standards continue, the country will be in flames (บ้านเมืองจะลุกเป็นไฟ-ban mueang ja luk pen fai),” Thaksin said in his “Talk around the World” program on his website: www.thaksinlive.com.

Thaksin said he was sentenced to two years in jail just because he had signed to allow his former wife to lawfully buy a plot of land in Bangkok, but another person could occupy a block of land in a forest reserve with protection from the state.

"Nevermind, I will continue fighting for justice until the last minute,” he said.

The self-exiled politician accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of forgetting his own words.

“Mr Abhisit said while he was opposition leader that the government must listen to the demands of protesters, even if their numbers were ten thousands or hundred thousands. But now he forgets the words,” Thaksin said.

“All parties must resort to talks to settle political disputes, otherwise the country will not be able to move forward," he warned.

Thaksin said he was in Papua New Guinea looking for business opportunities. He was interested in buying an oil and natural gas production firm in the country.