Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan  has suggested fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra should wash his hands of politics when he turns 70 on July 26^th and urged the Pheu Thai party to stand on its own feet.

The chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) made his suggestion, in a TV interview today, in response to Thaksin’s tweet that he would celebrate his 70^th birthday privately, with his family only, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he has taken refuge since fleeing Thailand about a decade ago.

Thaksin said his home is not big enough to accommodate the many people who have expressed their wish to join his birthday celebration, adding that it is not possible to hold celebrations outdoors because the temperature is almost 50 degrees Celsius.

Jatuporn said he believes a 70-year old man has gone through a lot of things in his lifetime and should think more than people of a younger age.

“For a 70-year old, he must think hard because his time is running out and there should be more time for the family. Hence (he) must think about what he has done in the past several years and their consequences. I think the answer is clear,” said Jatuporn.

Jatuporn said that Thaksin’s friends and foes will benefit from his name whether he washes his hands of politics or not.