Shinawatra to return to Thailand tomorrow

Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today confirmed he will return to Thailand on tomorrow but vowed to stay out of politics forever.

Critics, however, fear the homecoming for the billionaire owner of Manchester City could plunge the country back into political crisis.

Speaking in Hong Kong, Thaksin said the first thing he wants to do when he returns to Thailand is hug his wife and children.

“The country has returned to democracy, so I want to go home ... I miss my motherland,” he said while drinking coffee with supporters at a shopping mall.

He also said he will “never ever again” enter politics.

“I’ve had enough,” he said.

Thaksin will be greeted at the airport by senior officials in Thailand’s new government and other “people who love him” when he returns, officials said.

Thaksin has lived abroad since he was ousted in a September 2006 military coup and government officials say they plan to welcome him with open arms.

“I ordered the Airport Authority of Thailand to prepare the VIP rooms ... and I myself will be on hand to greet him,” Transport Minister Santi Prompat said.

“I will be there as the old friend ... who promised voters that if they chose the People’s Power Party we would bring Thaksin back with full honours said Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobambrung, a longtime Thaksin ally.

The PPP, which is packed with Thaksin allies, won the December general elections and now leads a six-party coalition government. The polls were the first since the military ousted Thaksin for alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who heads the PPP, won widespread support by campaigning as Thaksin’s proxy and pledging to clear his name.

Thaksin and his wife Pojaman face corruption and conflict of interest charges in connection with her purchase of prime Bangkok real estate from a state agency in 2003, while he was prime minister. Pojaman returned to Thailand in January and was released on bail pending trial.

Thaksin, a former telecommunications magnate, also faces separate charges of concealing assets.

Police will detain Thaksin on arrival and “they have to bring him to court,” Rakkiat Wattapong, the Supreme Court secretary-general, said Wednesday.

The chief of Thaksin’s legal defense team, Pichit Chuenban, said Thaksin would surrender to police and seek his release on bail.

An anti-Thaksin group has said it will mobilise protesters if the government intervenes in the legal process against him.

Thaksin supporters have said they will arrange transportation for hundreds of people to welcome him at the airport, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported.

“The party and government want his return to be quiet, but we cannot stop people who love him from greeting him at the airport,” Supamas Isarapakdi, a top aide to Samak, told The Associated Press, adding that she, too, planned to greet Thaksin at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Rakkiat warned Thaksin’s supporters they would be held in contempt of court if they cheer and shout and give him flowers in the court compound.