Ousted Thai PM Thaksin says no plans to mobilise supporters

This handout photo released by The Chosunilbo shows Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra speaking at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul on May 19, 2015.[Photo/CFP]

SEOUL - Thailand's fugitive former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, said on Tuesday he had no plans to mobilise his "Red Shirt" supporters but called the first year of the junta government which came to power in a coup "not so impressive".

Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a jail sentence handed down for graft in 2008, has rarely spoken about Thai politics since the military toppled the remnants of the government of his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, a year ago.

Yingluck was removed from office days before the army staged the 2014 coup after months of protests in Bangkok. She has since been banned from politics for five years, and faces a possible jail term over her role in a money losing rice subsidy scheme.

Thaksin, who was in the South Korean capital to speak at a conference, said there was no plan for his son, Oak, to take over leadership of the Puea Thai Party.

He called on the Thai people not to resort to violence.

"No, we want to see the government be a success, but it's difficult, as you can imagine," Thaksin said on the sidelines of the conference, when asked if there were any plans to mobilise his "Red Shirt" supporters.

"It's not so impressive yet," he said of the first year of the military government. "They have to work harder. They have to understand the world, and the mentality of the people who have been in democracy for many years.