Thaksin’s Letter: “I Do Not Know Should I Laugh Or Cry”

We, the world, got a handwritten letter from the man himself who didn’t dare to defend himself in court. A fugitive hiding behind his wealth – who raises some valid points though. To give you the goodies beforehand:

“I do not know should I laugh or cry to see the direction Thailand is moving forward: A democratically elected leader was put out of job because he cooked on a TV show but those who unlawfully trespassed and occupy the government house got protection from the court.”

“Whatever happens to me is a political driven actions collaborated by various group of privileged elites who believe in anything but democracy” … Here we go:

Woodsome Manor – Surrey, England – 22nd of October, 2008

My dear friends in the international media,

I am writing to you today to clarify a few facts. The news headlines have reported that I have been convicted of corruption for two years stemming from the purchase of land by my wife, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra.

What you have read is true, I was convicted for two years, but not because of a corruption charge. The only reason I was sentenced to jail is because at the time my wife bought the land through the open bid, I was the Prime Minister.

I listened to the judgment yesterday and even now I am still confused; there is no evidence of fraud, corruption nor abuse of power in relation to the bid in question; my wife was the one who involved and made decision to bid for the land, offered a lot more to the seller, the Financial Institution Development Fund (FIDF), than other bidders, and signed the contract with the seller, paid for the land with no involvement from her husband except when he was required to sign a spousal consent form.

In terms of any alleged influence I may have had no direct supervisory power over the FIDF. Interestingly, the court did not find the sale transaction of my wife unlawful or illegal, they did not convict her because she is not a politician; nevertheless, I was. I trust that you will independently verify the above facts as professional journalists often do. Unfortunately, most of you professsional colleagues in Thailand refuse to do so.

The best. I can comprehend is that I was convicted simply because I was a politician. In that case I was quite guilty cause I was quite a successful politician, I got elected twice by the majority of Thai people as Prime Minister.

If I were to be guilty of anything, that would be what I have shown to the Thai people, especially those underprivileged rural thais that they can, and have the right to demand their government to provide effective policy and programs to improve their lives.

I received this judgment with mixed feeling; relief for my wife as I pulled her into enough troubles because of my politcal ambition to bring greatness and well-being to my country and my people; amused and bitter with the illogical of the judgment, and worry for those politicians in Thailand that they could go to jail simply because their unhappy spouses may sought to manipulate the law.

For those of you who may not be too familiar with Thailand, state offices and enterprises in Thailand are doing so many businesses from telecommunication, banking, power generator or even owning gas stations.

I do not know should I laugh or cry to see the direction Thailand is moving forward: a democratically elected leader was put out of job because he cooked on a TV show but those who unlawfully trespassed and occupy the government house got protection from the court.

Whatever happens to me is a political driven actions collaborated by various group of privileged elites who believe in anything but democracy. I am a threat to them because I represent the principle of liberal democracy which promote hope and pride of the poor of my country.

Thailand is and will remain a great and beautiful country. Few people cannot face the face,obstructing the will of majority of the people. I believe that at the end Thai people will win over this struggle. And the end of their nightmare is not far.

I thank you for the opportunity to share the facts with you.

Truly Yours,

Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra

Via The Nation/Matichon