Thaksin hopes snaps dispel ill-health talk
Published: 1/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
Photos of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra taken with former South African president Nelson Mandela and former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela have been released to quash rumours about his ill-health.
Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra appears with former South African president Nelson Mandela in a photograph supplied to the media yesterday by Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin’s spokesman, in a move seen as an attempt to quash rumours about Thaksin’s ill-health.
Thaksin’s spokesman, Noppadon Pattama, circulated the pictures yesterday while giving an interview about the former prime minister who is believed to be staying in Brunei.
Thaksin has been keeping a low profile and rumours about his health being poor have resurfaced.
Mr Noppadon said Thaksin was in excellent health but had stayed out of the spotlight to avoid stirring up controversy and facilitate reconciliation.
Thaksin was keen on bringing about reconciliation in Thailand and his meeting with Mr Mandela, Africa’s model reconciliation statesman, was to tap the latter’s experience, Mr Noppadon said. He also insisted on the authenticity of the pictures.
He did not say when the photo with Mr Mandela was taken but said the photo with Mr Mandela’s former wife was taken on Friday.
Mr Noppadon said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya’s present visit to Montenegro as part of the government’s attempts to have Thaksin extradited were in vain as Thaksin had been granted citizenship. This made extradition unlikely.
Mr Kasit is on an official visit to the Adriatic state from Aug 28 to Sept 1 to boost diplomatic ties between the two countries. It is widely speculated that talk of Thaksin is on the agenda.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat said yesterday Thaksin was definitely in good health and was not in any country close to Thailand. Mr Somchai said Thaksin phoned him on Sunday to wish him a happy birthday.
*Bron: Bangkok Post / www.bangkokpost.com *