Thailand

Thaksin congratulates 100,000 supporters in videolink to Bangkok protest

Article published on the 2009-04-08 Latest update 2009-04-10 08:13 TU

Thaksin supporters outside the house of General Prem Tinsulanonda in Bangkok on 8 April 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

Exiled Thai Prime Minister Thakisn Shinawattra spoke to about 100,000 red-shirted supporters in Bangkok via videolink as protests against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva continue.

"I was overwhelmed to see this sea of red," Thaksin said. "I want to congratulate the entire Thai nation. We are gathering here because we are thirsty for real democracy."

"This fight is not for me, it's about our country, our people, our future generations," said the former premier, who is living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption

The demonstrators, who say they intend to protest until Friday, have gathered outside the house of a top royal aide, who they claim helped organise the coup which ousted former premier Thaksin.

There have been no reports of any violence, but Abhisit’s motorcade was attacked on Tuesday and he, alongside his cabinet, were forced to stay inside until the demonstration subsided.

Abhisit criticised local police, but confirmed that a key regional summit would still be taking place. The Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) summit starts on Friday in the town of Pattaya, on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

“Pattaya police need to improve their work as they were lax yesterday. All concerned parties are reviewing security as the Asian summit is approaching,” Abhisit said.

“The Thai government came out and said that the demonstrations can continue, and the Asean summit in the sea resort of Pattaya will go ahead, so the whole demonstration didn’t amount to anything,“ says Kavi Chongkittavorn, of the English-language newspaper, The Nation.

“Overall the mood is not tense at all because people know that the government has done well, and there is a big summit this weekend, and then with the holiday after, everyone just wants to see things moving along without any incident.”

“The government said it would not use any force at all.”

Protesters did not target an earlier Asean summit  during protests in February, fearing that it could mean less international support. But this is the latest demonstration in an ongoing campaign to topple Abhisit's government.