| Thaksin Shinawatra has planned to fix the long-restrained relationships between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, following Jul 3's election. The former Thai prime minister tweeted to confirm he will push for revival of the Thai-Saudi ties after the nationwide polls in this country have been finished with the Puea Thai Party being voted into government.
'I am no Muslim, but I've been residing in a Muslim state. I have many Muslim friends. (Thailand's) relationships with Saudi Arabia will be revived, following the election,' said the ex-premier.
A globetrotting Thaksin was referring to the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East state in which he has resided following 2006's coup which deposed him from power.
Relationships between the Southeast Asian state and the Middle East sultanate had remarkably declined with their diplomatic missions delegated from ambassadorial to charge d'affaires level, following the murders of Saudi diplomats and businessman in Bangkok about two decades ago.
The homocides of the Saudis were believed to have been linked with the theft of highly-priced jewelry from a Riyadh palace to the Thai capital.
In addition, bilateral trade and tourism were adversely affected in the face of the diplomatic restraints between the two countries. Thousands of Thai construction workers were denied jobs in the Middle East nation.
In another development, Noppadon Pattama, a legal counsel to the former Thai leader, called on Mr Thaksin's 'regular opponents' to stop mudslinging onto the Puea Thai Party and its No.1 candidate, Yingluck Shinawatra, currently striving to make herself Thailand's first woman prime minister.
The former foreign minister suggested all parties contesting Jul 3's election focus on policy matters in lieu of smearing campaigns which had apparently aimed at Mr Thaksin, brother of the top Puea Thai contender, as their prime target.
'Khun Thaksin has had nothing to do with the ongoing electoral campaigns of the party. Let's contest over policy matters, not personal issues,' he said.
He was responding to allegations his boss had adopted a 'four-steps' scheme to be given amnesty and return home, preferably later this year, if his sister and Puea Thai Party grasped most MP seats and succeeded in setting up a post-election government.
Ms Yingluck said she will only remain 'patient and resolute' in her vying for the post of head of government while being faced with allegations involving her party colleagues, her brother and herself. Produced by VoiceTV |
