Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been told to end what the military government sees as his active involvement in politics for the betterment of the country, a source close to the former premier said.
A Saturday "Happy Day" for civil servants and the public took place near Siam Paragon in Bangkok, featuring look-alikes of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (in blackface) and former Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. (Photo courtesy of Royal Thai Army)
The junta also wanted Thaksin to tell his supporters to cease visiting him abroad. Thaksin, thought to still wield considerable influence, has agreed to cooperate, the source said.
The source said National Council for Peace and Order leader Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha had conveyed a message to Thaksin.
"The NCPO contacted Thaksin, asking him to stop meddling with politics in Thailand and tell other key figures to stop, too," the source said.
"Thaksin told the NCPO he had already stopped. Thaksin also conveyed a message to Gen Prayuth asking him to ensure justice and fairness are served for all sides."
However, when asked if he had spoken to Thaksin on the matter, Gen Prayuth denied ever talking to the former premier.
"Don't get him involved with it," Gen Prayuth said.
The source said the NCPO also wanted Thaksin to cease meeting his supporters who travel to meet him abroad, but Thaksin explained that his supporters travelled to meet him of their own volition.
However, the source said Thaksin agreed to the NCPO’s request and told his supporters not to fly to meet him any more and to cooperate with the NCPO.
An army source also said Thaksin had been asked to tell fugitive red-shirt leader Jakrapob Penkair to back off from a move to form an anti-coup organisation-in-exile.
Mr Jakrapob is a former Prime Minister’s Office minister in the Samak Sundaravej government and is among lese majeste suspects recently ordered by the NCPO to report in or face trial in a military court.
The source said Thaksin and his supporters, including Pheu Thai politicians and members of the red-shirt movement, have realised that the junta is serious about exercising its power to handle anti-coup elements.
They had no choice but to keep a low profile, waiting for a new election to be called to allow the people to decide their political fate again, the source said.
At a meeting on the 2015 budget at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road on Friday, which was televised live, Gen Prayuth gave a stern warning to government officials and politicians that they must not meet or consult "him" — an indirect reference to Thaksin.
"Either politicians or whoever, you must not consult him. It’s not your duty. It’s over now," Gen Prayuth told the meeting. "You’d better consult me, instead. No need to consult an outsider any more. If you still continue consulting an outsider, just go and live with him. I’m warning you.
"I already warned the one who gives advice and he said he would stop."
The army source also said the NCPO asked former premier Yingluck Shinawatra to limit her public appearances, particularly visits to department stores, for the time being.
Ms Yingluck was recently seen at department stores with people taking pictures and uploading them to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. This could "stoke anti-coup feelings", the source said.
A Pheu Thai Party source said the political situation is very sensitive after the NCPO seized power from the Yingluck government on May 22.
The source said Pheu Thai politicians and core red-shirt leaders were having difficulty meeting Thaksin overseas. They would, however, use social media or the Line app to keep in touch with him.
Another Pheu Thai source from the Northeast said he had sent a message via Line to Thaksin. The source said Thaksin asked him to convey his message to other Pheu Thai politicians in the Northeast to continue working for the public good.
Thaksin, widely viewed as the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party and brother of Ms Yingluck, is believed to exert political influence in Thai politics.
He has been in self-imposed exile abroad after fleeing a two-year jail term handed down in October 2008 by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
The court found him guilty of abuse of authority by helping his wife win a bid for a Ratchadaphisek property. The ruling was given in his absence.
Patriotic Pageant: Performers dressed as Ayutthaya-era warriors parade in front of Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok at a screening of The Legend of King Naresuan 5 for the media and civil servants Saturday. Free tickets for the nation are available for the fictional version of the nationalistic story at participating cinemas nationwide Sunday morning. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)