http://us.asiancorrespondent.com/bangkok-pundit-blog/thaksin-s-apology.htm

Thaksin's apology		+ enlarge
Nov. 11 2009 - 06:00 am View comments (0)

Thaksin, apology

Matichon reports former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra released an audio recording on Thaksinlive.com as summarized below:

"I wish to apologize if my interview for Times Online causes irritation to HM the King. It is the nature of the media for the person who interviews someone is not the same person who writes the headline. That person is the editor. The headline and lead were very bad. I am handling this. I have made a letter of complaint and asked them to talk to each other to resolve this issue as Thai society is upset about it. I understand that are sorting out this issue and will do so within the next 1-2 days as I expressed great dissatisfaction. I want to apologize to the people and to prostrate and apologize to the Royal Family for irritation."

He further goes on to say he is loyal to the monarchy. He expresses disappointment at the Democrats for making an issue out of the questions he was asked about succession saying he wanted to explain what the procedure was and it didn't mean that something would happen to HM the King. He says he has no such feelings like that and wishes that HM the King will live until 120. The longer HM the King lives, the more stable Thailand will be.

BP: A lese majeste complaint has been made against Thaksin and the interviewer, Richard Lloyd Parry.

So a correction? A clarification? We will have to wait and see.

One thing that am confused by is that Thaksin's statement yesterday was complaining about the headline and lead. He specifically only mentioned them and that they were distorted - as blogged about here. Again, today his only complaint against The Times is with the editorial staff for the headline and lead. He implies it was not the interviewer who did so. BP is yet to hear any complaints about the transcript. Yet, there are number of stories (this Matichon article is one example) with the revelation that Thaksin's staff were involved in transcribing the transcript and the transcript was provided to refute Thaksin's statement about the distortion. Now, his words were not the ones used in the headline and lead. They were paraphrasing him and no doubt slightly tweaked to make it sound catchy. On any other story, it wouldn't have mattered, but it did here. Regardless, it was not lese majeste. At best, you can say it is "inappropriate".

Thaksin has changed tack with the apology and it happens after his brother-in-law, former PM Somchai W, visited him in Phnom Penh yesterday - there are unconfirmed reports that Somchai met with Puea Thai and ex-TRT people before going to Cambodia.

Matichon also states there are reports from within Puea Thai that the interview has impacted on the party, especially in urban areas. The party has assigned MPs to explain to voters about the interview. The party will translate the interview into Thai and distribute it. Community radio stations and media networks connected with the red shirts will be used.

BP: Most people wouldn't have read it. All they will hear are media reports stating it is bad, but they have little chance to know what Thaksin said. Once it goes viral up-country, what will the reaction be? Will the military allow it to be distributed?