Bangkok Post
The southern Lao province of Champasak is likely to be the venue for red-shirt supporters to meet deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to Noppadon Pattama.
Mr Noppadon, Thaksin's legal adviser, revealed on Thursday Thaksin’s tentative travel plans in Laos and Cambodia during Songkran holidays between April 11 and 15.
He said Thaksin will arrive in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, at about noon on April 11 and stay there two nights before leaving for Champasak province on the morning of April 13.
“Champasak province is near Ubon Ratchathani province, so if any Thai brothers and sisters want to meet Pol Col Thaksin, they can travel there conveniently,” Mr Noppadon said.
Thaksin will be in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province on April 14 and 15.
On the first day of Thaksin’s three-day visit in Laos, a merit-making ceremony and a traditional welcome and well-wishing ceremony - bai sri su kwan - will be held during the day as well as Lao-style Songkran celebrations in the evening, Mr Noppadon said.
Songkran, the water-splashing festival, is regarded as signalling Thailand's traditional New Year and is celebrated every year between April 13 and 15. It is also celebrated in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar at about the same time.
Mr Noppadon said Thaksin’s trips to the neighboring countries have no meaning in politics. The ex-premier only wants to celebrate Songkran holidays, regarded by many as family reunion days, and make merit. Many Pheu-Thai Party MPs and Thaksin followers are expected to visit him during his stay. Mr Noppadon said he does not yet know whether Thaksin’s family members will go to meet him.
Red-shirt core member Kwanchai Praipana early this week announced he would take 1,000 supporters to Laos to meet the globe-trotting ex-prime minister.
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