Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee Wednesday urged both supporters and opponents of the former Primer Thaksin Shinawatrato to refrain from any move that could plunge the Thai society into an even deeper rift.
"Thaksin has the right as a Thai citizen to return to his home country," Surapong was quoted by the state-run Thai News Agency assaying.
Thaksin's close aides said the ex-premier, who has been in largely self-imposed exile since the September 2006 coup that toppled his administration, will return to Thailand on Thursday to fight charges of corruption and abuse of power.
Amid increasing concern regarding possible clashes between supporters and opponents of the conflicting parties over the ex-premier's homecoming, Surapong, who is also the ruling People Power Party's secretary-general, urged all parties across the political spectrum not to link the return to any kind of political conflict.
"That is not a cause for concern. He is returning to fight for justice in his court case, which should not be linked to politics," Surapong said.
"Differing opinions are acceptable, but they should not lead to serious division at a time when the country needs unity to drive it forward," said the deputy prime minister.
Surapong made the plea following an anti-Thaksin coalition announced on Monday they would renew their campaign if the justice system is interfered with after Thaksin's return to the country.
Meanwhile, groups of Thaksin supporters also announced that they would turn up at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport to show their support to the former premier once he arrives.
Thaksin and his wife are charged with corruption in relation tothe purchase of a 772 million baht (26 million U.S. dollars) plot of land in Bangkok's Rachadapisek area in 2003, while he served as prime minister.
The former premier is accused of illegally influencing the dealand helping his wife purchase the government-owned parcel of land at a bargain price while he was in office.
Pichit Chuenban, Thaksin's defense lawyer, said his client would turn himself in to police when he arrives and will seek his release on bail on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua
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