Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is on a self-exile, has said political divide is worsening because Thais do not forgive as he appealed to his countrymen to put everything behind on the eve of the spring festival of Songkran.
"What grieves me is the loss of our good old culture. Thais used to be generous and caring. What happened has destroyed that spirit," Thaksin said.
The political divide is worsening, he said, "because Thais do not forgive".
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"We hold grudges. We slander one another and live with lies. Those who do not know the truth are misled," said Thaksin who was deposed in a coup in 2006.
He asked Thais to forgive and forget starting from Songkran Day.
"Let us make April 13 the day we put everything behind us and be generous to one another like when disasters struck, whether it was the tsunami or the great floods, during which Thais lent a hand to one another."
Thais celebrate the Songkran festival as their traditional New Year's Day from April 13-15.
Thaksin, brother of caretaker premier Yingluck Shinawatra, is expected to meet with several former Pheu Thai Party MPs and other supporters in Hong Kong.
Thaksin is despised by the opposition Democrat party and the Bangkok elite but adored by the poor across the north and northeast.
Thousands of anti-government protesters have been campaigning for nearly six months now calling for an end to the influence of the Shinawatras in the country's politics.
They demand that Yingluck resign from the government.
Thaksin became premier in 2001 before being ousted in a military coup five years later. He lives overseas to avoid jail for a corruption conviction he says was politically motivated.
