Thailand's ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra speaks to his supporters via videoconference from London during an anti-coup rally near Bangkok's Grand Palace June 15, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BANGKOK, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Tuesday guaranteed the safety of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) ordered him to hear charges concerning hiding information of the family's property investment arm next week.

    "The government ensures his safety. There is no need to consult the Council for National Security (CNS)," the prime minister was quoted by local media as saying.

    On CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin's early remarks that he was concerned about Thaksin's safety, Surayud said Sonthi must have felt that way. However, that cannot be interpreted that the CNS will be the one hurting Thaksin, he said.

    Surayud added that the government has no policy to detain Thaksin because he is not yet found to be guilty of the charges.

    The DSI on Tuesday ordered Thaksin and his wife Potjaman to come to hear charges concerning concealment of information on SC Assets, a property investment arm of the family, on June 26-29.

    The department warned that it would issue an arrest warrant against them if they fail to turn up in time.

    If found guilty, the two will face less than five-year imprisonment or will be fined no more than two times of the company value in the stock market, which is about 1.9 billion baht(56 million U.S. dollars), local news network The Nation said.

Thaksin's wife again postpones hearing on stocks case

    BANGKOK, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The wife of Thailand's ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday skipped her scheduled testimony at the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) on the Shin Corp share sales again, the third time that she postponed her meetings with the AEC.

    Somporn Pongsuwan, the personal lawyer of Thaksin's wife Potjaman Shinawatra, said on Tuesday that Pojaman was sick and given treatment in a foreign country. He said it is up to AEC's decision whether to agree to the request.  Full story

Thaksin's lawyer denies exile gov't is under plan  

    BANGKOK, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's legal advisor Noppadol Patama on Saturday denied that the former prime minister planned to set up a government in exile.

    "Thaksin has never thought of seeking asylum and has never planned to set up a government in exile," Noppadol was quoted by local news network The Nation as saying.  Full story