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Thaksin looking for permanent Australia home


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Exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has plans to move to Sydney's prosperous eastern suburbs, the media in Australia reported on Monday.

The Bangkok billionaire, deposed in a bloodless military coup nearly five months ago, has asked a Sydney property developer to find him a home, The Australian newspaper reported.

"I am looking in the eastern suburbs for a property with good views of the (Sydney) harbour," Mr Thaksin told the newspaper.

He spent the weekend playing golf at the Capital Golf Club in Melbourne and The Lakes in Sydney. Mr Thaksin repeated that he is finished in Thai politics. "Not just the next election, but for life," he said.

"I think Sydney is very safe and I have friends here," he said.

"I like Australia. The people are friendly and sincere. The weather is good. It is clean and safe and I can play golf all year round. In a way, I am grateful to the military government for forcing me into an early retirement, so that I can spend time with my family again," the former telecoms magnate told The Australian.

"Now, the only activity I am considering is investing in the stock market and doing charity work to support the rural development of the King."

Mr Thaksin said much the same thing to the ABC, the government broadcasting corporation, saying he was interested in real estate while he is in Australia.

"I asked my friend to look for a house in Sydney, especially in the eastern suburbs," he said.

He claimed to be pondering an academic career focusing on alleviating poverty in the kingdom.

During his six years in office he provided affordable health care for the poorest Thais, as well as funding education and housing programs. But then, a US last month claimed to show that the gap between rich and poor widened considerably during Mr Thaksin's time in office.

Mr Thaksin said he had no interest in returning to business or politics and has no business or political interests in Australia.

He denied that his frequent appearances in the international media were an irritant to the military government now installed in Bangkok.

"Every time I speak to the media I try to be very conservative as a former prime minister," Thaksin said. "No matter how bitter you are, you have to be very faithful to your country, to your people and to your monarch. I try to be very constructive, but they are still concerned."