Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday he was not worried that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had hired a foreign lobbyist firm to discredit the kingdom while his close aide refused to negotiate with the government, aimed at ending political turbulence prevailing in the country.
Mr. Abhisit, whose coalition government assumed power two weeks ago, said both the hiring of an overseas lobbyist and the refusal of Mr. Thaksin's aide to talk with his government would not pose an obstacle to the government's intended work.
"Political fighting is common," Mr. Abhisit said. "There's no problem but don't attack the country or the (royal) institution. The foreign affairs ministry and I must in future have to work harder on (political) offensive in order to enable the world to understand the real situation."
Ousted in a bloodless coup in September, 2006, Mr. Thaksin was sentenced last October to two years in prison in absentia on corruption charges and is now living in self-imposed exile in an unknown location.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, meanwhile, said he had asked a go-between — but not Pongthep Thepkanchana, Mr. Thaksin's spokesman — to help arrange a meeting with the ousted premier.
Refusing to disclose the identity of the go-between, Mr. Suthep said it is too soon to say when such a meeting might be held because it is up to the former prime minister whether he would agree on a meeting.
Mr. Suthep said he believed that Mr. Thaksin could understand that the meeting, if held, is aimed at benefiting the country and its people.
Mr. Abhisit has said that his coalition government set as its priority solving social divisions which have deepened following the September coup and to resolve the economic problems facing the country.
