Ex-Thai PM hits out at UK

by Dylan Bowman

LASHING OUT: Shinawatra (pictured) said the British government was not respecting its own democratic values. (Getty Images)Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has lashed out at the UK for revoking his visa - and vowed to return to Thailand as prime minister.

In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, to be published next Sunday, Shinawatra said the UK would "feel sorrow" for revoking his visa and accused the British government of not respecting its own democratic values.

Shinawatra"s UK visa was cancelled earlier this month following his conviction for corruption in Thailand. He had fled to the UK in 2006 following a military coup that removed him from power. 

"England must understand better, but unfortunately they are now busy with their own problems - so they forgot about democratic values," Shinawatra said during an interview in Dubai.

Shinawatra vowed to return to Thailand at some stage, stating that he could bring confidence back to the country.

"The country is going down deeply. The confidence is not there. The trust amongst foreign community is not there. The poor people in rural areas are in difficulty," he said.

"With me at the helm I can bring confidence quickly back to Thailand. We have to find a mechanism under which I can go back, that is why I must tell you that I will go back into politics."

However, Shinawatra said he would only return if the people and the king of Thailand wanted him to go back.

"I think a lot depends on the power of the people. If they feel they are in hardship and they need me to help them, I will go back," he said.

"If the king feels I can be beneficial I will go back and he may grant me a royal pardon. If they don"t need me and the king feels I can make no difference then I will stay here and do business."

The full, exclusive interview with Shinawatra will be published in Arabian Business on Sunday Nov. 30, and from 10am on Thursday Nov. 27 online at ArabianBusiness.com.