The Return Of The Great Divider

February 28th, 2008: Thaksin Shinawatra, the great divider, as intensely hated as loved, ends one and a half years in exile. To clear his name and get his hands on the frozen millions.

Thaksin is back home – in what turns out to be one of the longest days in the life of Thaksin. The begin of a triumphant comeback? Can he resist the urge to grab power again? Lies another showdown ahead with the judiciary and the old elite?

Follow the events of the day in real-time right here. Relive how Thaksin fell to his knees and kissed Thai soil after his arrival and was taken into police custody VIP-style.

5.30 pm: HE Samak meanwhile spends an unusually quiet day. Being of a quite talkative nature otherwise, he refuses to talk to reporters today. Before noon he met with army top brass and went straight home without saying a word. Jealous/fearful while Thaksin is basking in the limelight?

3.30 pm: Thaksin takes a rest at the Peninsula Hotel. He’ll attend a funeral ceremony of the late princess Galyani Vahana at 6.30 pm. Everybody is asking meanwhile if and when he is granted an audience with HM The King. He had previously expressed his desire to prostrate himself at the feet of the King right after his return to Thailand.

2.30 pm: Thaksin leaves the “press conference” without answering any press questions … Instead, while leaving the room, he said his aides would answer questions for him: “I just want to go and enjoy a bowl of beef noodles in peace now.”

2.20 pm: Thaksin starts the press conference at the Peninsula, flanked by his family. He thanks the Thai people for the warm welcome at the airport and feels regrets for the past 17 months he had to spend abroad.

But most importantly: He pretends to wash his hands off politics: “I definitively stay out of politics,” says he.

Reports The Nation: Thaksin vowed to stay out of politics and apologized to the people for their hardship caused by his involvement in the political conflict: “I and my family have suffered from injustice but this can not be compared to the hardship befallen the people who are the worst victims of political rivalry,” he said.

Thaksin said it was normal for politicians to having ties with him as this was part of Thai culture, but should not be construed as his political comeback.

He said he wanted to return to his homeland since September 20, a day after the power seizure but he was asked by coup leaders to stay in exile for a while. This happened to last almost 18 months, he said.

Following the restoration of democratic rule, he said he was obliged to come back to defend his tarnished reputation and that of his family. He said he was saddened by the injustice, vowing to rebut his graft charges and prove his innocence.

1.15 pm: Thaksin heads back to his Chan Song La residence and holds a meeting behind closed doors with key staff and advisers.

1.00 pm: DELAYED – Thaksin is expected to give a press conference at the Peninsula Hotel, where he will stay. His Chan Song La residence is under renovation. The unofficial reason though being that Thaksin faces grave safety concerns. Home’s not safe. If you planned a quiet stay at the Peninsula these days – expect 300 walkie-talkieing police officers securing security for the man who’s home but cannot go home.

12.30 pm: At the Attorney General Thaksin receives the second bail, this time related to concealment of shares in SC Asset Corporation, a property development set up by the Shinawatra family.

Mobile phone signals around the office of the Attorney General were cut off to prevent explosions that can be triggered by mobile phones.

11.10 am: Thaksin’s youngest daughter has to face the music (again): She’s his bondswoman. During the bail review at the Supreme Court, Thaksin is held in the court’s custody at a defense room. The bail process should take about one hour while Thaksin hears alleged corruption charges in relation to the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

10.40 am: For those who loved the show: There’s soon another return of Thaksin. He wants to attend a match by his Manchester City Football Club on March 15th. And he’ll be back again! Released on bail, Thaksin can leave the country though only with a prior approval by the Supreme Court.

10.30 am: According to CNN reporter Dan Rivers, who was on the plane with Thaksin, there had been loud applause on board when the 747 touched down. Asked if he would return to politics, Thaksin told Rivers: “No.” Asked again if he would never ever return to politics, Thaksin said: “Never ever.”

A joke, as everybody here knows. He’s the de facto leader of the new People’s Power Party PPP that rules Thailand. He was greeted in Hong Kong by the party’s supremos … Or asked differently: How long he has to wait for this amnesty?

10.25 am: Thaksin’s motorcade heads direction Sanam Luang. Thaksin is personally escorted by Interior Minister Chalerm who laughs off any assassination attempt. The show at Suvarnabhumi is over.

10.20 am: Thaksin is taken into police custody and on the way to the Supreme Court to formally hear the charges and ask for bail. None of the TV channels covering the event has a live shot of the man anymore. Time to sit back and dwell upon what’s ahead for Thailand!

10.15 am: There are some young farangs and a black guy in Thaksin’s entourage. Looks like he brought back some players of Manchester City Football Club – as ambassadors of goodwill. Seen with Thaksin: MCFC goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and midfielder Kelven Etuhu.

10.11 am: Thaksin leaves the airport building, wais the crowd. Reads one banner: “To Thaksin With Love.” Some people run to get a better view – Thaksin looks hardly moved though, but rather tired and pale, knowing there are some hassles expecting him. Back to reality then!

Before leaving the airport building Thaksin had prostrated himself: Went down to his knees and kissed Thai soil. Seven seconds on the floor – the longest seven seconds in the life of Thaksin Shinawatra. Who looked overwhelmed. I’d say he had tears in his eyes.

10.05 am: HE Samak Sundaravej nowhere to be seen! Clever move. Or mybe Samak is not too happy with surprisingly early arrival of the great master back in town?

9.55 am: Comfort for those who don’t really appreciate the return of Thaksin: There are quite some supporters and loyalists at Suvarnabhumi, but not the thousands and thousands they old guard expected. But they got the backing of Thailand’s motorcyclists: 2,000 eager Thaksin-motorcycle-loyalists besiege the airport.

09.55 am: Among the well wishers: Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, Transport Minister Santi Prompat and Justice Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

And there’s wife Pojaman and their youngest lovely daughter.

9.50 am: While it’s all happiness and cheering at Suvarnabhumi and we wait for the first words of the great divider back home, let’s reflect on The Charges against Thaksin.

9.45 am: The eagle has landed.

9.35 am: THE NATION reports that some 100 former Thai Rak Thai MPs gather at the airport. Among them: Yinglak Shinawatra, a sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

9.30 am: The arrival of the man is near. More and more people gather and cheer in front of the VIP terminal. No sight of any PAD supporters, it’s all about the return of a man who seems to be remembered by only good deeds. New ETA: 09.45 am

8.00 am: It’s party time at Suvarnabhumi – supporters warm up for the arrival of their hero:

6.55 am (7.55 am HKG time): TG 603 with Thaksin and many of his former Thai Rak Thai loyalists on board leaves Hong Kong bound for Bangkok. ETA: 9.30 am BKK time.

Accompanied by his son, time to read a Thai newspaper in the plane:

06.30 am: A hundred police officers or so stand around. People prepare banners to welcome Thaksin with wordings like “We miss Thaksin”, “Welcome Beloved PM Thaksin” or “Thaksin: Champion of the Poor”. Some of the few dozen supporters already wave flags – even though the arrival of the great divider is over three hours away.

6.00 am: People start gathering in front of Suvarnabhumi’s VIP wing near the Zone 4 car park. First buses filled with Thaksin supporters arrive.

5.00 am (6.00 am HKG time): Thaksin and son (left) arrive at Hong Kong airport.

The great puppet master refuses any VIP treatment. It’s all about the limelight: Check-in done by the man himself: