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Politics
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2006-09-25 09:49:00-04
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Thaksin's wife, children still in Thailand
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The military ordered the new anti-corruption panel to start meeting immediately, and a senior official said the members were told to aim at seizing assets of the Thaksin Shinawatra family, foreign news agencies reported today. Army spokesman Palanggoon claimed the military council announced it has appointed nine people to a reconstituted anti-corruption commission to investigate wrongdoing by the Thaksin government. The leaders also pressed ahead with efforts to purge the regime of the former leader's influence. The Associated Press also confirmed that Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman, widely reported to have fled Thailand in panic last Tuesday night just ahead of the declaration of martial law, is safe and sound in Thailand, as is the couple's only son. There are speculations that they stayed behind to protect his vast assets against possible confiscation by the country's new military rulers, officials said. "They all have the basic right to stay and lead normal lives here. They are living in freedom and without any disturbance, control or restrictions," Lt Gen Palanggoon Klaharn said. The Telecom tycoon turned politician built up a multi-million dollar business empire over the past few decades and its fortunes soared during his five years in office. Critics alleged that he took advantage of his position as head of government to enrich himself and his associates, and also accused him of challenging the king's authority an unpardonable act in the Southeast Asian nation. The coup, carried out while Thaksin was abroad, met no open resistance, and was generally welcomed by the public in Bangkok, which had been drawn to a campaign earlier this year seeking Thaksin's resignation for alleged corruption and abuse of power. The military announced it would hand over power in two weeks to an interim civilian prime minister, and that a new election would be held by October next year. Thaksin who is in London with his third child, a daughter, said Thursday that he wanted to take a "deserved rest" from politics and did not offer any challenge to the military takeover, calming fears that the former leader may attempt a comeback that could lead to bloodshed. He arrived Wednesday in London from New York, where he was attending the U.N. General Assembly. He would most certainly face some kind of legal action if he returned to Thailand.
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