Thaksin phone-in cancelled

Thaksin supporters

BangkokPost.com

Tens of thousands of supporters packed into the old national stadium in downtown Bangkok were disappointed on Saturday when a scheduled live speech by fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was cancelled at the last minute.

Originally, Thaksin's address was to include both the recorded message and a live telephone conversation with Mr Veera, and last about an hour.

According UDD leader and political talk show host Veera Musikhapong, Pracharaj party leader Sanoh Thienthong and Puea Pandin party leader Pracha Promnok earlier phoned Thaksin, asking him not to phone-in live at the rally as it could affect the establishment of the new government.

But in a speech recorded previously and shown to the crowed in jam-packed Supachalasai stadium on Saturday evening, Thaksin told the army to stop "interfering" in Thai politics, and he urged unity to solve political problems.

Once again, he blamed the military and the judiciary for unseating him and for keeping him away from the country.

"At the moment the army is interfering," Thaksin said in the pre-recorded speech. "Those people who interfere in forming the government must stop and withdraw."

Speakers told the enthusiastic, red-clad crowd of around 25,000 that army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda had interfered in trying to unseat Thaksin supporters and install a Democrat party-led coalition as the government this week.

Thaksin interjected a call for unity into his otherwise partisan speech.

"All parties must join hands, look to the future and work to solve the country's problems," said.

The ex-premier criticised his former close aide Newin Chidchob, leader of the Friends of Newin faction, for undermining the Puea Thai party by siding with the Democrats to set up the next government.

Referring to his present life, Mr Thaksin said he is like a cornered dog and he had already survived two attempted assassinations.

He also opposed the idea that the army could be involved in forming the next administration.

Mr Thaksin condemned the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for laying siege to Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in the beginning of December.

He expressed concern over the economy and the rising unemployment in the country.

He had promised to name names, but instead merely repeated and updated his old charges that the army was meddling in Thai politics.

The recorded message marked the second public address by the former premier since he fled his pending court cases in August. The first was to a similar stadium rally last month.

He has since been sentenced in absentia to two years in jail on corruption charges and refuses to confirm where he is living since he was forced to leave Britain in November when his visa was revoked.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup following months of protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who took to the streets again this year, accusing the government of acting as his proxy.

After six months of demonstrations that culminated in a blockade of Bangkok's airports that left 350,000 travellers stranded, the PAD finally stood down on Dec 3 when a court ruling forced premier Somchai Wongsawat from power and dissolved his People Power Party (PPP).

The PAD threatened on Friday to return to street demonstrations if Thaksin supporters, regrouped under the newly formed Puea Thai (For Thais) party, form the next government.

Thaksin's loyal supporters in their trademark red shirts, many from the North and Northeast, headed to Bangkok's Supachalasai stadium, the former Sanam Keela in Phatumwan district.

Thaksin's address came as lawmakers prepare to vote for a new prime minister on Monday in a special parliamentary session that looks likely to elect a Democrat-led coalition and oust his allies from power.

The PPP's ruling coalition has unravelled since the court decision, with some of the party's former members defecting to the opposition Democrats along with four smaller parties.

The rally cheered as speakers on Saturday spoke for Puea Thai and criticised what they alleged was political interference by army chief General Anupong Paojinda, who has admitted "advising" lawmakers on how to best resolve the crisis.

The Democrat party claims to have the support of 260 of the 438 lawmakers for Monday's vote, leaving their leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the current frontrunner to take the premiership.

But Puea Thai have refused to admit defeat, saying they can still muster the support to form a governing coalition. (with reports by AFP)

Earlier report:

Tens of thousands of supporters packed into the old national stadium in downtown Bangkok were disappointed on Saturday when a scheduled speech by fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was cancelled at the last minute.

The former premier, living in exile to escape corruption charges, was to

phone in to the rally at the stadium Saturday evening, after his allies

in government were forced out by a court ruling that has splintered

their coalition.

He was expected to use his speech to accuse the army of meddling in Thai politics. Instead, in a pre-recorded address, he urged unity.

He criticised "political interference" by certain groups and people, but did not name them.

Instead, he said, "all parties must join hands, look to the future and work to solve the country's problems."

Rally organiser Veera Musikhapong claimed that authorities "blocked" the live speech, which has been anticipated for several weeks. The estimated 25,000 supporters who packed the stadium were obviously disappointed.

Originally, Thaksin's address was to include both the recorded message and a live telephone conversation with Mr Veera, and last about an hour.

The recorded message marked the second public address by the former premier since he fled his pending court cases in August. The first was to a similar stadium rally last month.

He has since been sentenced in absentia to two years in jail on corruption charges and refuses to confirm where he is living since he was forced to leave Britain in November when his visa was revoked.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup following months of protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who took to the streets again this year, accusing the government of acting as his proxy.

After six months of demonstrations that culminated in a blockade of Bangkok's airports that left 350,000 travellers stranded, the PAD finally stood down on Dec 3 when a court ruling forced premier Somchai Wongsawat from power and dissolved his People Power Party (PPP).

The PAD threatened on Friday to return to street demonstrations if Thaksin supporters, regrouped under the newly formed Puea Thai (For Thais) party, form the next government.

Thaksin's loyal supporters in their trademark red shirts, many

from the North and Northeast headed to Bangkok's Supachalasai stadium, the former Sanam Keela in Phatumwan district.

Thaksin's address comes as lawmakers prepare to vote for a new prime minister on Monday in a special parliamentary session that looks likely to elect a Democrat-led coalition and oust his allies from power.

The PPP's ruling coalition has unravelled since the court decision, with some of the party's former members defecting to the opposition Democrats along with four smaller parties.

The rally cheered as speakers on Saturday spoke for Puea Thai and criticised what they alleged was political interference by army chief General Anupong Paojinda, who has admitted "advising" lawmakers on how to best resolve the crisis.

The Democrat party claims to have the support of 260 of the 438 lawmakers for Monday's vote, leaving their leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the current frontrunner to take the premiership.

But Puea Thai have refused to admit defeat, saying they can still muster the support to form a governing coalition.