Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he would not respond to the remarks of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who said the country's administration in the first year under the military regime and his government has been "not so impressive".
Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra speaks at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul yesterday. He told Asian governments the 'rule of law' was key to democracy, nearly a year after the military toppled his sister's administration. AFP
"Did he say the things I did? Did he do the things I have done? I will not respond to him. [People] can judge me based on my actions," Gen Prayut said.
The prime minister made his comments after Thaksin poured scorn on the first year of the military regime after the May 22, 2014 coup to reporters on the sidelines of the 6th Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul Tuesday.
- Earlier report: Thaksin staying on the sidelines
"They have to work harder. They have to understand the world, and the mentality of the people who have lived with democracy for many years," Thaksin said.
"I think democracy will prevail sooner or later, but we have to be patient, and we have to be peaceful," he said, adding: "Don't resort to any kind of violence.''
Thaksin also insisted he has no plans to mobilise red-shirt supporters against the military regime.
"We want to see the government be a success, but it's difficult, as you can imagine," Thaksin said, when asked if there were plans to rally his United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship supporters.
Thaksin also said there are no plans for his son, Panthongtae "Oak" Shinawatra, to take over the Pheu Thai leadership. In his conference speech, Thaksin told Asian governments the "rule of law" was the key to democracy. "[Rule of law] is an important asset for each country to be credible," he said.
Thaksin has kept a low profile since the military's takeover.
Opponents accuse the Shinawatras of cronyism, corruption and financially ruinous populist policies.
But they are loved in the rural North for policies that tapped into changing social and economic demands, such as the rice pledging subsidy, healthcare scheme and university grants.
Thaksin's pro-democracy comments are likely to chime with red-shirt supporters.