Exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in Thailand's first coup in 15 years, can come home if he stays out of politics, his successor said yesterday.

 

"Mr. Thaksin isn't barred from returning to the country, so if he wants to come back, we need to have a conversation," Surayud Chulanont told a news conference.

 

"After he returns, he must not be involved in any political movement because such movement may bring trouble," added Surayud, appointed by the leaders of the bloodless September 19 coup.

 

Thaksin told CNN in an interview, blocked from Thailand over the weekend, he did not want his return to cause unrest in the country, but was willing to come back to defend himself on corruption charges.

 

The Council for National Security (CNS), as the coup leaders call themselves, has set up a graft-busting committee to probe alleged wrongdoings committed by Thaksin, his cabinet ministers and their families, but they have announced no evidence yet.

 

Thaksin told CNN that if he were allowed to return home, he would not return to politics, but work in academia and for charity and spend time with his family.

 

Surayud said he had opened up communication channels for Thaksin to discuss his return.

 

"Do I really need to send him an invitation?" Surayud asked.

 

In the CNN interview, Thaksin also urged Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej to draw a veil over the past in the interest of national unity.

 

"I'd like to hear what the people think about this, so I won't express my own opinion on the issue for now," Surayud said.

 

Thaksin is in Japan and Thai media speculated he was seeking a chance to meet CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who is visiting China this week.

 

Thaksin said yesterday he would not be returning immediately to his homeland.

 

"I have the right to go back to my motherland anytime I want to. But as a responsible person (my return may) create more conflicts among my supporters and the military. It might not be the right timing for me to go back," Thaksin was quoted as saying in an interview in Tokyo yesterday.

 

"I will wait and give more time for the installed government to bring unity to the country," Thaksin said.

 

(China Daily January 23, 2007)