Thaksin invited to Myanmar 'again' : Noppadon

Published on Friday, 09 November 2012 10:19

Myanmar President Thein Sein has invited former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to visit his country again to deliver a lecture on economic development, notably on the eradication of poverty and the development of rural areas, the ex-leader's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said yesterday.

Thaksin visited Thein Sein socially during his trip to Myanmar and the two leaders got to know each other quite well while the former leader was still in office, he said.

"Thaksin praised Myanmar's economic and political reforms for democracy and indicated that it would be under the international community's attention once the Western countries have lifted the sanctions," Noppadon posted on his Facebook page.

The date for the lecture will be set later, Noppadon said, adding that he had spoken to Thaksin on the phone after the former leader met Thein Sein yesterday. Noppadon said Thaksin discussed many regional issues, including Asean's future, with the Myanmar leader.

Thaksin's high-profile trip to Myanmar kicked off yesterday. It is believed he is in the neighbouring country to get as close to Thailand as possible as well as make some business deals.

His plan to meet his red-shirt supporters in the border town of Tachilek was cancelled after news of an assassination plot hit the headlines over the past week.

However, Myanmar has denied the existence of the plot, the online edition of the Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday. It quoted Pol Major Min Kyaw Thu as saying, "it has nothing to do with Thaksin. There is absolutely no plot to assassinate Thaksin".

News about the claimed plot became big news after Thaksin's son Panthongtae began posting messages on his Facebook page linking the plot to the seizure of weapons at the border recently.

Major Min Kyaw Thu was quoted in the paper as saying that the case was related to drugs and was being investigated.

Source: The Nation