Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has advised his family members to keep a "low profile" in politics. Thaksin made the suggestion in a phone call a few days ago, his cousin Gen Chaisit Shinawatra... said yesterday. His advice showed in the Pheu Thai Party's decision to field only caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat, as candidates in the Feb 2 polls.
Gen Chaisit warned protesters not to back Shinawatra family members into a corner by pressuring them to leave the country.
"I do not mess with you, and you should not mess with me either," Gen Chaisit said, referring to the protesters.
He hoped army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha would use his connections with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to break the political deadlock.
The former army chief and supreme commander, who turned 69 yesterday, called the protests a "quiet coup", pointing out that police and soldiers had not attempted to end the month-long rally.
Thaksin has kept a low-profile since the protests began in late October
Meanwhile, Ms Yingluck yesterday wished caretaker ministers a happy new year at their cabinet meeting _ the last meeting of the year.
"I wish you all the best for next year. I hope it will be far from the distress my family and I are suffering," deputy government spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat quoted Ms Yingluck as saying
Ms Yingluck also asked the caretaker ministers to keep working on solutions to the country's problems.