I am in no rush to come home, says fugitive Arisman

When will you return to Thailand to fight your legal case?
The cases in Thailand will have to wait for some time. The complainant in most of my cases is Veera Somkwamkid, who is now in jail in Cambodia. (Laughter). We [the red shirts] are trying to help Veera so that he can return to Thailand. … Regarding my cases, I am sure I did not do anything wrong. It is unclear if the court will hand down a guilty verdict, and there is no evidence. If they want me to return to Thailand, there must be no cases against me.
I don’t care about the cases against me. They stem from false allegations by my opponents. I did not commit any offence against the country or the people. It’s not important when I will return to Thailand if the country is fully democratic. If they don’t allow me to return, I can live in a foreign country. I believe that I can live overseas happily and proudly.

What are you waiting for before returning to Thailand?
I am waiting for the progress of the Truth for Reconciliation Committee’s work. An international judicial procedure should be allowed to investigate [last year’s political unrest and dispersal of red-shirt protesters]. If the international criminal court finds that I am guilty, I will admit to the wrongdoing. I do not believe in the country’s justice process. Judges are appointed from a group of people who can be ordered to turn left or right.

Are you going to return to Thailand late this year?
I have to wait for a right situation. There is no need for me to rush. I am spending my time overseas studying, such as agriculture.

What kind of situation are you waiting for?
I wait for the progress of work by the TRC and the Independent National Rule of Law Commission, both of which I can rely upon for justice.

Why don’t you return now when the government is led by the Pheu Thai Party [which is supported by the red shirts]?
I don’t want to make it a political issue. They [the government’s opponents] are finding ways to attack the government. I want the government to work for people who voted for them first.

What do you think about the allegation of lese majeste against red-shirt leaders?
This is not an allegation against me. We had an idea of building a memorial to celebrate His Majesty the King’s longest reign in 2006, when he had been on the throne for 60 years. Thaksin Shinawatra, who was then the prime minister, approved the project and chose the Railway Park as the site for the monument. I think this secret I have kept for many years should [now] be told. I had no chance to disclose it and this is the right time. This project disappeared after the coup… The red shirts don’t want to overthrow anything. We just want complete democracy. We want the sovereign power to really belong to the people.