Sunday, November 02, 2008

Thaksin Asks For Royal Help To Return Home

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on the run after a court sentenced him to two years' jail recently, said only the royal family or the people's power could bring him back to his homeland.

"No one can take me back to Thailand, except for royal kindness or the people power.

I am not the leader (of the gathering) but your former prime minister...I always wanted to contribute to my country and the Thai people but I cannot do that now," he said when addressing the 'Truth Today Against Coup' show.

Over 60,000 people clad in red thronged the Rajamangala Stadium here today to listen to the 59-year-old Thaksin making a 10-minute live phone speech from Hong Kong. He fled to Britain before the Supreme Court sentenced him to two years in jail for power abuse in a land purchase scheme involving his wife.

Thaksin said the court sentence meant he could not return for at least 10 years, but did not elaborate on how the royal family or the people power could bring him back.

But the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 80, usually gives pardons to prisoners during his Dec 5 birthday.

"Do you miss me?" asked Thaksin as the crowd cheered to show their love for their leader who led his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party to victories in the 2001 and 2005 general elections and considered one of the most popular politicians in the country.

Thaksin said he was encouraged by the strong support shown to him.

On Sept 19, 2006, he was ousted by the military and the TRT was dissolved for an election fraud case in 2007.

All its 111 executive members including Thaksin were banned for five years, but his allies formed the People's Power Party (PPP) which won the December 2007 elections and the current prime minister is Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat.

Tension had been growing in the capital in the run-up to today's gathering, with several attacks on both pro- and anti-government supporters.

More than 1,000 police were deployed at the stadium while soldiers were on stand-by as there were fears that the pro-government supporters could be heading for a showdown with anti-government groups.

On Thursday, 10 guards of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) were injured when unknown men threw a grenade at a barrier near the Government House which PAD has been occupying since Aug 26, while another man was shot dead not far from the area the same morning.

PAD is demanding the current government to resign and want a new political system that favours more appointed government leaders and members of parliament, rather than the current democracy practice.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gather all your supporter and kill King Bhumibol.

Thaksin supporter.

Anonymous said...

Thaksin is not a republican, and he does not need to be shown as disrespectfull to the King as the lunetic PAD is trying to paint him. Once the PAD are gone the relation between Thailand & Cambodia will return to normal.

Anonymous said...

The PAD and the PPP's supporter hated each other. A bit of outsider interference could spark a civil war. Use your imagination...

Anonymous said...

There will be a Republic of Thailand soon...believe me...The current king is a hidden dictactor. His power can be seen through Anupong's arrogant and Prem Tinsulanon's behavior...

Andy Mohan said...

this is the time to take a proper decession...


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