Reconciliation bills not aimed at getting Thaksin's money back, his lawyer says
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A lawyer for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday rejected allegations by the Democrat Party that the government-backed reconciliation bills were aimed at granting amnesty to the ex-leader so he could get back Bt46 billion seized by
Noppadon Pattama issued a statement countering the opposition allegations. He said the proposed law, if and when it takes effect, would not stop Thaksin from facing legal action for offences allegedly committed while he served as prime minister (from 2001-2006).
Noppadon said the Democrats would not succeed in separating Thaksin from the red-shirt movement. He dismissed their claim that Thaksin had used his red-shirt supporters for political gain but now ignored them.
At a recent gathering by the red shirts, Thaksin asked them not to “follow him to the mountain” after they had “rowed the boat to send him to the bank”. This remark was seen as meaning that Thaksin did not want the red shirts to make trouble while he was trying to reach his goal by other means.
But after dissatisfaction expressed by many red-shirt leaders, Thaksin later tried to explain himself by saying his earlier remark was made during a period of poor signals while he was in a rural area overseas.
Noppadon said yesterday that Thaksin was wealthy even before he entered politics. He said the Forbes financial magazine reported that Thaksin was worth almost Bt70 billion before he became foreign minister in 1997. He claimed the Democrats distorted the facts by saying Thaksin amassed his wealth while in power.
However, Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the truth was that Thaksin had less than Bt40 billion in 1997 but his wealth increased to more than Bt74 billion after he became prime minister.
He said the value of Thaksin’s shares, held by his nominees, jumped while he was in power because of stock manipulation, resulting in him being Bt46 billion richer. That was the amount seized by the court.
“Thaksin is no different from some selfish businesspeople who think of their benefit over other people’s interest,” the spokesman said.
