Ousted Thai PM calls for amnesty, forgiveness

By Staff
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BANGKOK, Jan 20 (Reuters) Exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in the country's first coup in 15 years, has urged Thailand's revered king to draw a veil over the past in the interest of national unity, CNN reported today.

''I have confidence in benevolence of His Majesty the King and the spirit of forgiveness of the Thai culture and the people,'' Thaksin said in an interview with CNN broadcast today.

''I really want to see the amnesty for ... all Thais ... It's time to reconcile and this may happen soon,'' he said in English without elaboration.

In the interview, like extracts broadcast earlier in the week blocked from Thailand by cable operator UBC, Thaksin said he would not return for now because he wanted the army to manage a national reconciliation.

The interview, conducted in Singapore, was blocked because the cable operator had cooperated with the military's ''request for cooperation,'' Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin said.

Sonthi led the September. 19 coup which ousted Thaksin, accusing him of abuse of power and rampant corruption and saying the military had to act to prevent potentially bloody clashes between Thaksin supporters and his opponents.

The Council for National Security (CNS), as the coup leaders call themselves, has set up a graft-busting committee to probe alleged wrongdoings committed by Thaksin, his cabinet ministers and their families.

Thaksin said he did not want his return to cause unrest in the country, but was willing to go back to defend himself on corruption charges.

''If I have to go to testify, I go. But now the reason I'm not going back yet because I want unity in the country. I want the administration to do the reconciliation. I want everyone to unite, to move the country forward together.'' After months of repeated calls by the government and the CNS for Thaksin to stay aboard, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said today a return was negotiable.

''If Thaksin wants to return, we will discuss what move he will take while he is here,'' Surayud said in a television broadcast.

Thaksin said if he were allowed to return home, he would not return to politics, but work in academic life and for charity and spend time with his family.

He said he was looking to buy a house in London, where he owns an apartment, and might travel around the world if not allowed to return.

REUTERS MS RN1828

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