Thai FM calls former PM Thaksin a terrorist, says he’s instigating deadly clashes

more images

more images

Thai FM blasts former PM as terrorist

WASHINGTON — Thailand’s foreign minister on Monday lashed out at former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing him of personally instigating the country’s deadliest political clashes in nearly two decades.

In heated comments on the sidelines of a global nuclear summit, Kasit Piromya compared Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, to 20th century dictators Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin and to the terror group al-Qaida.

“He’s a bloody terrorist,” Kasit told a small group of academics and reporters.

Kasit urged the United States to pressure Thaksin’s supporters to turn away from violence and enter into negotiations with the government. He said that if anti-Thaksin protesters respond to the street violence, Thailand could see a military coup. The army has not hesitated to stage coups during previous political strife.

More than 20 people died Saturday in clashes that are part of a larger power struggle between rural supporters of Thaksin and members of the country’s traditional ruling elite. Protesters in recent years have taken to the streets each time their rivals have come to power. The exiled Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail in 2008 for breaking a conflict-of-interest law.

The pro-Thaksin forces want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who canceled his trip to Washington because of the chaos, to dissolve Parliament and call new elections. They feel their votes were ignored after Thaksin was ousted from power in 2006. Thaksin’s party is popular among the country’s rural majority for initiating social and economic welfare programs.

Despite his anger, Kasit said that while the government won’t allow the protests to force it to dissolve, it is ready to enter into negotiations.

Earlier, Kasit said the clashes are part of the traumatic and messy democratic process of giving a voice to ordinary farmers and workers after years of rule by the elite.

Thailand has seen three governments in the four years since the 2006 coup, and Kasit acknowledged that his country has “not found the right formula. We have not found the compromise.”

“Thailand cannot go on behaving like a banana republic … and become a problem child,” Kasit said at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. “This is an unfinished symphony.”

Kasit said the exiled Thaksin must serve his jail term before he could participate in efforts to set up negotiations.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Thailand to embrace reconciliation.

“While Thailand continues along its path to resolve its political differences, we remain confident in the strong, enduring bonds between the United States and Thailand, our oldest ally in Asia,” Clinton said in a statement.