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| Thaksin Seems Resigned to Fate as Political Leader |
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Thailand caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra seems resigned to fate as the country's political turmoil never seems to be finished before this year-end. On Saturday, local media released special reports said Thaksin is ready to step down as a political leader and "he appears willing to accept fate". The report comes from one of Thaksin's recent remarks. On Friday, while presiding over an event to mark the fourth anniversary of the assets conversion office, the prime minister said that "I have more opportunities than you do, but they come and go. My time as the prime minister must also come to an end." The speech is widely considered as a hint of his leave. "Mr. Thaksin hinted that he was up against forces greater than he, and that it was best to resign himself to whatever might befall him," the Bangkok Post said in its Saturday special report. The report also quoted a source close to Thaksin as saying that "he [Thaksin] was feeling disheartened by the political ambiguity surrounding the government and his party." But another source in the Government House told Xinhua that Thaksin will never bow to the oppositions easily. Just as, he himself also stressed during the Friday remark that his departure from office may occur only under the constitution. Anyway, the prime minister, who is under heavy pressure, will continue to face a series of troubles in the coming months until the new election scheduled in October. The Election Commission (EC) recently forwarded a report on alleged electoral fraud by Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party, the ruling party which is founded and led by Thaksin, to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG). It endorsed the findings that the ruling party violated article 66 of the Political Party Act, which says a party could be dissolved for any action deemed to be subversion of the democratic system and constitutional monarchy, or for acquisition of executive power by unconstitutional means, or for committing any act deemed a threat to national security, public order, or ethics and morality. The OAG has set Tuesday as the date for deciding on the report, which connects the future of TRT. If the OAG decides to indict TRT and the Constitution Court rules against the party, TRT will be disbanded. Bangkok Post said Thaksin "had assessed the situation and concluded he was fighting a losing battle." Cabinet members close to Thaksin said he was becoming tired of fighting a proxy war. He believed he was pitted against a highly charismatic individual who was behind campaigns to oust him from office, the newspaper said. Vissany Krue-ngarm, one of the six Deputy Prime Ministers, revealed his plan to resign to the media on Thursday, only a few weeks after Borwornsak Uwanno stepped down as cabinet secretary- general. Thaksin shrugged off Vissanu's resignation, saying there were several others to fill the vacant seats. He announced Vissanu's resignation would take effect Saturday, only two days after the deputy revealed his willing. Many publicists raised their eyebrows by Thaksin's flash-like announcement, because Vissanu earlier said he needed more time to clear his work. During the last three days, rumors were spreading that some key party members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, and Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya, were considering leaving. Chaturon and Thanong denied the rumors, while Somkid neither denied nor confirmed the speculation. (Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2006) |
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