BANGKOK, Jan 31 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today categorically denied an international news report that her elder brother, ousted premier Thaksin, controls the cabinet remotely from abroad via various telecommunications channels.
The New York Times said Mr Thaksin, in self exile since 2008 and residing mostly in Dubai and London, has made important political decisions for the government via mobile phone and social media applications such as Skype, LINE and Whatsapp.
Ms Yingluck stood firm that she is the genuine prime minister of Thailand and that she and her cabinet jointly and clearly run the country.
“Opinion polls show that my leadership and recognition among the people has increased. I have successively proved myself in the past year. I’d rather have people judge me from my performance,” she said.
“I can’t stop people’s thinking but I believe lots of people are fair to me. What a working person wants is moral support.”
She described as groundless the report which said Mr Thaksin participated in some cabinet meetings and ordered ministers through Skype, saying the cabinet conferences are off limits to telephones.
