Prawit back PM's insistence that Thaksin return home to face justice first

“The PM had said that talks and reconciliation were different issues. We have to separate reconciliation from court cases. Thaksin must face the justice system because we have to abide by the rule of law,’’ Prawit said.
With a host of corruption charges against him, Thaksin had reportedly said he was ready to talk in response to National Reform Council member Wanchai Sornsiri’s suggestion that Thaksin and Prayut go to the negotiating table to find a way to bring about reconciliation.
Udomdej said he wanted everyone to do things within the legal framework, otherwise it meant resisting the justice procedures.
“Everyone is free to offer proposals, but in some cases we must follow the due process first, otherwise we cannot talk,” Udomdej said.
Prayut also got support from politicians outside the military. Deputy Democrat Party leader Nipit Intrasombat said he breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Prayut rejected Thaksin’s offer for talks and admired the PM for his decision.
Prayut yesterday reaffirmed his stance on Thaksin’s offer to discuss national reconciliation solutions, saying he would let the justice system run its course.
Anyone who causes trouble for the country must be held responsible, he said.
Prayut said he could not talk with Thaksin because prime ministers and state officials were forbidden by law to speak with fugitives from justice.

Issues created by others
“I already have many problems, like farmers’ low incomes and other issues created by others. Why should I reconcile with anyone? I am not anyone’s enemy. I have taken control to solve the country’s problems by using the justice procedures,’’ he said.
“Whoever wants to propose anything they can, but do not create conflict and do not drag me into it,’’ the PM added.
Prayut said he intended to move the country forward in line with the justice system. “If anyone refuses to [accept] the justice procedures, how can we reach any understanding through talks?’’ Prayut said.
“Whoever causes trouble for the country must be held accountable. They [will have] failed to follow the law. Everyone and every party now must prove themselves in court. I cannot decide for them,’’ he said.
Political temperatures have risen since former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, was impeached last month by the National Legislative Assembly over her failure to stop corruption and massive losses in the rice pledging-scheme, resulting in her being banned from politics for five years.
Public prosecutors have also decided to indict her for criminal offences in connection with the rice-pledging scheme. The Thaksin family has reportedly turned to allies in the West for support to pressure the Prayut administration.
Prayut had said a general election could be held at the end of the year at the earliest, or early next year.
Thaksin was sentenced in absentia to two years’ imprisonment over a corrupt land deal in October, 2008, in a ruling that made him the first Thai politician to be convicted of corruption committed while serving as prime minister.
He was found to have violated rules regarding conflict of interest in helping his then wife Potjaman na Pombejra buy land from a state agency at a reduced price. The conviction was the first against Thaksin since his government was overthrown by a military coup in 2006.