HagenvonTronje

SRT Labor Union calls on SRT Governor to step down

BANGKOK, 30 June 2009 (NNT) - The labor union of the State Railway Authority of Thailand (SRT) reiterates its stance to protest the organization’s privatization and urges the SRT governor to resign.

Chairman of the SRT labor union Sawit Kaewwahn stated yesterday after meeting with the SRT board that the union had also asked that it be allowed to operate the airport rail link project. Mr Sawit handed the SRT governor a letter drafted by the union calling for his resignation due to the Sunday Market rent scandal. The rent hike was recently found to have unlawful components.

The SRT labor union has asked that the SRT Governor show responsibility over the matter by stepping down, adding that he may return if later absolved of any guilt. The union has also assured that it will not strike again if it is allowed discussion and negotiation on all issues.

-- NNT 30 June 2009

article here

Oh this is rich. My wife is telling me the police chiefs in La-Un have sacked 7 of their underlings for not passing the tea money upwards.

Oh that is rich, Mosha, the invisible falang (self choosen custom member title) telling us on the internet forum what his wife was telling him.

2) If I dig up posts of you referencing killed individuals, will you leave the forum? I'm not gonna work for free.

just do it, instead of talking hot air.

if you can bring a quote from koo82 where she claimed that hundreds have been killed as you accuse her before you are the winner of that argument.

and your silly bet "if can, will you leave the forum" should be double sided. if you can't not, you should keep silent in the future. don't demand from other what you are not willing to accept for yourself.

you approached me once with the same bet 'if you bring some evidence, i should leave forever'. i am still waiting for that video that you promised me to show. you never came up with. just talking hot air and keep on trolling.

You seemed to be confused.

They showed the video of the red shirted women spitting on him. As was reported here. And the journalists laughed when they later tried to make it out like they where the victims anyway.

again, that woman, that got her hair pulled and dragged across the road didn't spit that 'hero' in the face. that claim is false.

you confused that with the situation where the second woman spat on the ground. if you are still unsure if that is the same, ask your mother. i am sure she can explain it to you, what is wrong there.

so now you have two task, bring a video that show that that curley hair woman spit the man in the face and bring the quote where koo82 claims that hundreds have been killed, otherwise follow your own advice.

thank you for your cooperation.

Hi All.

Just seen on the Television News that Abhisit invited Veera the red shirt leader onto his television show this week-end to put his case to the nation and debate the issues , Veera declined the offer and said he is busy trying to collect 1,000,000 signatures to get a royal pardon to bring Thaksin home,Now everyone knows that the red shirts have no policies to debate. The only policy they will pursue is trying to get a pardon for their boss.

phupaman

Fallacy. Why she should give Abhisit the honour to appear on his stage? His offer comes to late and in a moment where he lose ground. Nobody want to play with Mark M 16. Realize that. Just look at the canceled Asean meeting in Phuket.

2) If I dig up posts of you referencing killed individuals, will you leave the forum? I'm not gonna work for free.

just do it, instead of talking hot air.

if you can bring a quote from koo82 where she claimed that hundreds have been killed as you accuse her before you are the winner of that argument.

and your silly bet "if can, will you leave the forum" should be double sided. if you can't not, you should keep silent in the future. don't demand from other what you are not willing to accept for yourself.

you approached me once with the same bet 'if you bring some evidence, i should leave forever'. i am still waiting for that video that you promised me to show. you never came up with. just talking hot air and keep on trolling.

Whats the difference between a canary?!

One legs green and the others also blue!

BR>Jack

it's the kidney that makes all the difference

Red-shirt co-leader Veera Musigapong has been approached to appear on a talk show with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said on Tuesday.

From the Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...-the-twain-meet?

An interesting gambit, and for once from this government a brilliantly leaked PR piece. Puts Veera in an interesting spot.

yep, super PR. just good to announce a couple of hours later:

TAT New Delhi Office to set up tour package for Indian visitors to Thailand

BANGKOK, 29 June 2009 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi Office, prepares to promote value packages to attract Indian travelers to visit Thailand.

TAT New Delhi Office Director Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya elaborated on the marketing promotion plan of 2009 that, the Indian market was continuously growing with high purchasing power. He stated that the office had planned to promote value tourist packages to stimulate Indian travelers to come to Thailand and to develop a website in order to provide information to tourists more effectively.

Since the tourism industry of Thailand had been suffering from various problems, Mr Chattan remarked that a road show would be another way to restore the industry’s liveliness. He reasoned that it would allow tourism business entrepreneurs to hold talks and exchange ideas.

An estimate of 530,000 Indian tourists is expected to visit Thailand in 2009. Currently, there are 3 main groups of Indian travelers to Thailand, which are 70% for travel and recreation, 20% for conference, and 10% for wedding.

-- NNT 29 June 2009

article here

21 provinces surrounding Phuket prepared for ASEAN Summits

BANGKOK, 30 June 2009 (NNT) – 21 provinces will be on 24-hour alert against mobs that may seek to disrupt the ASEAN Summit set for this coming 17 to 23 July 2009 in Phuket province.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Suthee Makboon this morning chaired a video conference with provincial governors from 21 provinces surrounding Phuket. Mr Suthee iterated the importance of hosting and maintaining security for the upcoming renewed round of the ASEAN +3 and +6 Summits taking place in Phuket next month.

Mr Suthee briefed the governors on security work overseen by Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. The minister this morning led military personnel to review and prepare security measures for the summit venue.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary asked all 21 provinces to closely monitor the movements of protest groups. He also suggested they prepare equipment necessary for an emergency situation such as fire trucks and generators for any unforeseen complications. On top of safeguarding against disruption, he asked the governors to put up signs welcoming foreign delegates and prepare to host the world leaders attending the event.

-- NNT 30 June 2009

article here

GLO to hold public hearing on online lottery scheme

BANGKOK, 29 June 2009 (NNT) – The Government Lottery Office (GLO) will hold a public hearing on the online lottery scheme on 10 July 2009.

GLO Director Wanchai Surakul stated that the public hearing will be organized to gather opinions about the controversial online lotteries pending for distribution. The public hearing is expected to be attended by members of the press, researchers, lottery vendors, and the disabled. The opinions will be concluded within 15 July.

Mr Wanchai said the public hearing’s conclusions will be submitted to the GLO Board and Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij for deliberation. The director said he personally thought that the online lottery scheme must move on in order to prevent overpriced lotteries and legalize underground lotteries.

-- NNT 30. June 2009

article here

They seem to be odd bedfellows among the reds - Marxists, Thaksin cargo-cultists, believers in patronage and money politics, disaffected rural types, anti-***********s. I often wonder what really keeps them together, especially during the planting season when people are less attracted by a couple of days' sponsored outing to the city.

you forget the people that are against coups and by the military supported governments.

someone seems to have a field day today...

Abhisit had today a meeting with the Mathematics Olympiad Team.

Abhisit showed today support for anti-alcohol advocates

Abhisit today met with the Actvist of the national "Safety Week 2009"

Abhisit recieved today examples of educational material of the democracy for thailand campaign

and Abhisit had today a meeting with the Cultural Minister of Korea, ROK

and it is just midday, much more to come.

click on the photos for source and more information.

Minister of Foreign Affairs continues to seek extradition of Mr Thaksin from UAE

BANGKOK, 30 June 2009 (NNT) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs has made plans to renew talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the extradition of fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Reports have indicated that Puea Thai party MPs will travel to the UAE to meet with ousted Prime Minister Thaksin and celebrate the party's recent by-election wins. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya stated however that Thailand had not let up efforts to seek the extradition of Mr Thaksin and had continually submitted information on his legal status to the UAE.

Mr Kasit noted that during the upcoming ASEAN-GCC Summit, he will most likely bring up the issue during his meeting with the UAE foreign minister. The talks will be the first instance of the matter being raised at the ministerial level. Previously, the issue has only been handled by the assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

-- NNT 30 June 2009

article here

TALK OF THE TOWN

Govt need not be disheartened by opinion poll results

Published on June 30, 2009

Thai Rath has encouraged the government to work hard for the public. In its editorial titled "The government must produce measurable result", Thai Rath said that the recent poll conducted by Bangkok University shows the government had failed to produce satisfactory results.

The Bangkok Poll shows that the respondents gave the government only 4.06 points out of 10. Thai Rath said that previous governments tended to angrily dismiss the result of the poll if it reflected negatively on them. But Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva accepted the poll result and he warned Cabinet members not to be involved in corruption and asked his ministers to work hard.

The Bangkok Poll showed that the honeymoon period is over. An Abac Poll, conducted in May, showed that a majority of 70 per cent of the respondents were satisfied with Abhisit while 58.8 per cent were satisfied with the government's performance. One month has passed and the result by a different pollster has shown a different result.

Nonetheless, Thai Rath said that 64.4 per cent of the respondents of Bangkok Poll, conducted among Bangkokians, said they believed the government would stay in office for longer than one year. It shows that Bangkok people still wanted to give the government the opportunity to work.

The respondents also said that what they liked best about the government is the prime minister's decision to exercise caution in solving conflicts.

Therefore, Thai Rath said the government should not feel let down by the result because respondents still wanted to see the government in office to fulfil their mission.

For instance, after the House passed the bills to allow the government to borrow up to Bt800 billion to stimulate the economy, the government must urgently use the money to produce tangible results.

Thai Rath added that several surveys also showed that the strongest point of this government is the prime minister, who is accepted for his honesty without any conflict of interest. Therefore, the prime minister should work based on his strong point by not letting any corruption within his government.

Nonetheless, Thai Rath summed up that apart from the economic crisis, Thailand is also facing problems from a lack of foreign investor confidence in Thai politics.

Therefore, the government must exercise decisiveness in protecting law and order and not allow any group to instigate disturbances in the country.

Matichon's editorial, meanwhile, urged the Thai and Cambodian governments to be cautious in solving the conflict at Preah Vihear Temple.

In its editorial "Don't let the war begin", Matichon said the Thai government must make the plea asking Unesco to revise its decision with discretion, caution and diplomatic prowess.

It must convince the World Heritage Committee and the world that the development of the Hindu temple requires cooperation from both Thailand and Cambodia.

-- The Nation June 30, 2009

article here

SIDELINES

By-election defeats emphasise need for a stronger band of coalition partners

By SOPON ONKGARA

The Nation

Published on June 30, 2009

The coalition government got another rude awakening on Sunday when Pheu Thai Party scored another landslide by-election victory in Si Sa Ket Province, a week after a similar triumph in Sakon Nakhon. Is it time for the heavyweights to start mopping their brows, now that Thaksin Shinawatra intends to exhale his hot breathe on their necks soon?

Chieftains of the defeated parties - Bhumi Jai Thai, and Chart Thai Pattana - conceded that it was next to impossible to convince northeastern voters to forget Thaksin who in recent weeks had increased the frequency of his phone-ins to woo support for Pheu Thai candidates.

The victories did not mean that Thaksin could get back home to reclaim political power after a military coup toppled him three years ago. The rally of red-shirt supporters on Saturday night gave him another opportunity to plead for help. He has been languishing abroad, mostly in Dubai, for three years and does not want to face a lonely death in the desert.

The defeats represented a no-contest between the two coalition partners against Pheu Thai. The gap in the number of votes was so vast that it took less than an hour for the results to be known. Pheu Thai ringleaders were overjoyed by the outcome. They challenged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House and hold general elections if he has enough guts.

It has become a joint effort by the red-shirt activists and Pheu Thai Party to bring Thaksin home at any cost. That includes national instability. It is also their goal to unseat Abhisit as soon as possible so that Thaksin can be free from legal troubles, especially a two-year jail term.

The public saw that Thaksin's influence was still considerable. This raises a fearsome possibility that he would again become a political overlord with an authoritarian streak. More dreadful is that there could be full-scale corruption with politicians and cronies taking big cuts and kickbacks from multi-million-baht projects.

Should Abhisit and the coalition partners be frightened by the prospect of losing power in a very near future as their performance in office has not been up to par as shown by a public opinion poll by a university? Not yet. The people, by and large, are not yet in the mood to go to the polling booths now that the country is plagued by unending political, economic and health crises.

Thaksin admirers have voted for Pheu Thai Party candidates in the Northeast, but it remains a far cry for urban people to embrace his return. The disgraced politician in exile has yet to clear his name from 17 pending criminal allegations related to malpractices in office.

On the contrary, the by-election results should have convinced all coalition partners to band together and reduce the bickering over vested interests during the past six months. If they continue to fight for plum projects amidst the public outrage, it means they want to hasten their departure due to growing negative views of those previously sympathetic to the government.

Leaders of the defeated parties should feel that they would be needed more than ever by the coalition core. At the same time, the Democrats can also feel that the people need them as well if they don't want Thaksin back to haunt the country's coffers while his cronies lurk around to plunder national assets again.

What's more, the coalition is not ready for a break-up, despite the haggling over who should get what and how much. The budgetary allocations await final passage after many multi-million-baht projects have been prepared to improve the government image for a longer stay in office.

Still, if the coalition government continues to limp along with an unimpressive performance in tackling chronic and new problems, it would not take long for the people to feel that they might have to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea if their tolerance thins out.

Until then, the government has some more time to show competence in crisis management. The fiscal position doesn't look too good amidst dim prospects for an increase in exports. The poor handling of the type-A (H1N1) flu, which has caused three deaths, does not inspire much confidence as the number of those infected also rises by almost a hundred cases daily.

Abhisit still has some room for manoeuvre while he stands out as the only selling point with credibility and integrity. So far, he has not been shunned by foreign leaders when he holds bilateral talks. What is needed from him is decisiveness in saying "no" when faced with unreasonable propositions.

If the government's popularity rating does not slip further, Thaksin and his cronies will have to wait longer. The euphoria over the by-election victories would not make them feel justified in paving the way for the quick return of the fugitive in exile.

-- The Nation June 30, 2009

article here

EC to strictly go by the laws

Published on June 30, 2009

The Election Commission would strictly interpret the relevant laws when considering whether to disqualify MPs for unconstitutional shareholdings, EC member Sodsri Satayathum said yesterday.

She said the subcommittee investigating the matter was divided on the disqualification proposal. A team of legal advisers - academics and constitution writers - had been appointed to offer advice to the subcommittee.

Sodsri said she thought the panel should base its decision on legal advice from the expert team.

When asked if her comment would pressure the subcommittee, Sodsri said panel members should heed legal advice from the experts. She added that it would be the EC's duty to make the final decision whether to pursue the case with the Constitution Court.

She said there had been differences before between a probe panel and a team of legal advisers involving a case of political party dissolution, but the EC agreed to the legal experts' advice to pursue the case. The Constitution Court finally concurred with the EC and ruled for party dissolution.

Sodsri, who is in charge of political party affairs, said EC members must consider the matter carefully because it was "life and death" for the MPs involved. She said it would be all EC members - and not the subcommittee or the advisers - who would face the legal responsibility if something went wrong.

The Constitution prevents MPs and senators from holding shares in a media business and companies awarded with state concessions.

In a related development, three MPs from the opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday testified before the EC investigation subcommittee about their shareholdings. They are Sunai Jullapongsathorn, Pairote Tanbanjong and Panhathai Serirak.

Sunai said his wife is an employee of PTT, entitled to hold shares in the petroleum company. He said the constitutional provision preventing public holders and their spouses from holding shares in such companies was, to him, against the constitutional liberty of occupation.

However, he would accept whatever the EC decided about the matter.

"This is a present from the CNS. Since this constitution was promulgated, problems have continued unabated," the politician said, referring to the view the charter was a legacy of the coup by the Council for National Security.

Meanwhile, Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet expressed hope yesterday the EC would change its recent decision that would disqualify 16 Upper House members for equity rule violations. He said the EC might have obtained new information involving the matter.

The Speaker said some senators told him the EC had never allowed them to explain that some of them held only a small amount of shares worth Bt400. "They held shares with innocence," he added.

Prasopsuk is entitled by law to forward any petition from the EC to the Constitution Court for a ruling about shareholding cases. He said the EC had yet to hand him the case involving the 16 senators.

-- The Nation June 30, 2009

article here

Banned is banned, end of argument.

Unless you approve of banned politicians using their influence to win elections for others?

Seems that might be the case.

what means banned actually?

the banned person can not be an party executive for that period or run for elections.

there was an interesting interview a couple of moth ago with Sodsri Satayathum, a member of the EC concerning that issue. here in The Nation.

there have been also a couple of accusation towards the government of working together with banned politicans.

hereby the EC took a soft approach and didn't saw big problems, instead of argue banned is banned. period.

a similar discussion we had already http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Puea-Thai-Cl...eo-t262835.html

everybody can file a complaint and the EC will look into the issue. let's wait what the outcome will be.

SRT Labor Union disapproves rehabilitation plan

BANGKOK, 29 June 2009 (NNT) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Labor Union President, Sawit Kaewwan, expressed disagreement with the SRT rehabilitation plan which set up two sub-companies, reasoning that such action was worse than privatization.

Mr. Sawit said the Union disapproved the cabinet’s resolution to allow private companies to be involved with the SRT. He cited that the plan was not open for participation of either the Union or the public, adding that if the Government had allowed it, there would not be strikes by railway staff.

Instead, the Union President suggested that the SRT should readjust revenue collection in the 36,302 rai of land under ownership of the SRT leased in commercial purpose, which was at one billion per annum only. He said the increased revenue could help the SRT operate more efficiently.

-- NNT 29 June 2009

article here

PM admits Puea Thai’s popularity in Northeast

BANGKOK, 29 June 2009 (NNT) - The Prime Minister acceded that the northeastern region had remained a stronghold of the Puea Thai Party after by-election victories in Sakon Nakhon and Si Sa Ket.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave clarification on the fact that he had not conducted provincial visits in the northern and northeastern regions, saying that he only wished to avoid creating further conflicts, rather than fearing protesters as speculated.

When asked whether fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's phone-ins to local people in Sakon Nakhon and Si Sa Ket had played a key role in winning both by-elections, Mr Abhisit stated that the voters were the ones with the answer.

In response to reports of a campaign to collect one million signatures of people to support a petition seeking a royal pardon for the self-exiled former prime minister, Mr Abhisit reemphasized that the request must be conducted within legal and political procedures.

-- NNT 29 June 2009

article here

"Approximately 3% of couples who reported using condoms consistently and

correctly (considered “perfect use”) are estimated to experience an

unintended pregnancy during the first year of use."

The window to get pregnant is about 5/28 days = .179 x 365 = 65 days of fertility... Assume couples studied have sex 3 days a week. 3/7 = 43%

So they had sex an average 43% of the 65 fertile days = 28 fertile days a year, and ended up pregnant 3% of the time or (3/100 = x/28) = 16% rate of failure of a condom.

So for a condom encounter

don't know where you get your first quote from with the 3% of couples who using condoms correctly, but okay take that as given same as your figures on the fertile days per year and now we start the mathematics.

x couples having sex with condoms on statistical 28 fertile days a year. 3% of them ended up pregnant. failure rate of the condom?

Thaksin demands fresh resistance

Thailand's ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra has addressed a big crowd of supporters in Bangkok by telephone, urging them to continue protesting.

The crowd cheered as Mr Thaksin, who lives in exile in Dubai, criticised the policies of the current government.

He complained of being lonely and told the crowd not to leave him "dying in the desert", promising to "work for the people" if he could return.

Police estimated more than 25,000 were at the rally - the largest since April.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called a state of emergency in April as the rallies by red-shirted protesters threatened to destabilise his government.

The protest leaders eventually called off their action after days of rioting and clashes with security forces left at least two people dead and more than 100 injured.

'Loathing injustice'

Mr Thaksin told his supporters they had gathered because they wanted to see "true democracy".

"We loathe injustice. We loathe double standards. We're here to say if you want us to stop, then return justice and true democracy," he said.

To roars of approval, he said the current government was good for three things: "Borrowing, hiking taxes and hounding Thaksin."

He also entertained the crowd with songs, and begged them to find a way for him to return to Thailand.

"Why do you have to leave me dying in the desert when I can work for our country?" he said.

"I'm a grateful person. When I'm back, I'll work for the people right away."

Mr Thaksin has spent much of his time abroad since he was deposed in a military coup in 2006.

He was convicted of corruption in 2008 - a prosecution he says was politically motivated - and faces jail if he returns to Thailand.

Yellow vs red

Mr Abhisit came to power last December after previous Thaksin-supporting governments were brought down by a concerted street protest by yellow-shirted demonstrators.

He was eventually chosen as leader after several MPs who had previously backed Mr Thaksin were persuaded to change sides.

Analysts say the rift in Thai society - symbolised by the red and yellow shirts - remains strong.

Many Thais in rural areas support Mr Thaksin and ally themselves with the red-shirt cause.

The "yellow shirts" draw their support from Bangkok's urban elite, the middle classes and the conservative royalists.

-- 27 June 2009

article here

Thousands of anti-govt protesters mass in Bangkok

By MICHAEL CASEY

BANGKOK (AP) — Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra attacked the government's handling of the economy Saturday and told thousands of cheering supporters not to abandon the fight for democracy in one of the largest demonstrations to hit the kingdom in months.

More than 30,000 supporters braved heavy rains in Bangkok to hear the media tycoon, who addressed the crowd via telephone link from what he said was an undisclosed location near the Thai border. The enthusiastic reception reinforced Thaksin's political strength and indicated the return of the "red shirt" movement that supports him.

The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship — known as the red shirts — was silenced in April by threats of a government crackdown following days of street clashes and riots that left at least two dead and more than 120 injured.

Protest leaders said they are continuing to call for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's resignation, the dissolution of parliament, and new elections.

"We come here because we want to see true democracy," Thaksin told the crowd. "We loathe injustice. We loathe double standards. We're here to say if you want us to stop, then return justice and true democracy."

Thaksin also complained that he was lonely and serenaded the crowd with a song that included the line "Don't leave me in Dubai" — a reference to one of the cities he has called home since he fled into exile last year after being convicted of corruption.

"Are you going to bring me back red shirts?" he asked. "I'm a grateful person. When I'm back, I'll work for the people right away."

Police mobilized 3,000 security officers and warned the red shirts not to block Abhisit's office, as it did for several weeks in March and April. But protest leaders said they had no plans to march to Government House and there was no indication the crowd was leaving the soggy Sanam Luang field in central Bangkok.

"We want to overthrow the government which has been set up by the establishment," protest leader Jatuporn Phromphan told the crowd. "We want the dissolution of parliament. We will insist on our demands no matter how long it takes."

The protesters accuse the country's elite — the military, judiciary and other unelected officials — of undermining the country's democracy and orchestrating a 2006 coup, in which Thaksin was ousted.

Thaksin's allies remained in power in the two successive governments, but were stymied by "yellow shirt" protesters and separate charges of conflict of interest and fraud, that were held up in court rulings.

The yellow shirts — who took to the streets last year shuttering Bangkok's two main airports — argue that voters in Thaksin's rural base are too easily bought.

Abhisit cobbled together a coalition after a court disqualified the pro-Thaksin prime minister on complaints of fraud in the 2007 election, ending the yellow shirts' demonstrations.

The red shirts responded by launching their own protest in March, but backed down under threat of a military crackdown after their demonstrations became violent.

article here

Don't leave me 'dying in desert' Thaksin tells Thai rally

By Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK (AFP) — Ousted former Thailand premier Thaksin Shinawatra urged his supporters not to leave him "dying in the desert" of Dubai on Saturday as he made an impassioned address to a rally in Bangkok.

The fugitive politician, who is living in exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption, made a 50-minute telephone address to tens of thousands of anti-government protester who gathered despite heavy rain in the Thai capital.

"We come here because we want to see real democracy. We hate injustice and double standards," Thaksin told the cheering red-clad crowd, which numbered 25,000 according to police estimates.

"I am fine and doing some business and travelling around but I am really lonely, I want to go back," Thaksin said. "Why do you have to leave me dying in the desert when I can work for our country?"

Appealing to his grassroots support base in the poorer north of Thailand, Thaksin said the government of premier Abhisit Vejjajiva should wipe out household debt and attacked its record on the economy.

"This government is good for three things: borrowing, hiking taxes and hounding Thaksin," the exiled media tycoon said.

The crowd of "Red Shirt" protesters in the historic quarter of Bangkok made up the biggest anti-government rally since bloody riots erupted two months ago.

Protest leader Jatuporn Prompan said it would organise three more gatherings, without saying when they may be.

"They (the government) hoped that they had wiped out the Red Shirts after the last crackdown but instead we are getting stronger and red over Thailand," said Jatuporn.

He repeated the group's demands to a jubilant crowd -- that Abhisit must dissolve parliament and call fresh elections -- and berated royal adviser Prem Tinsulanonda, whom they accuse of instigating the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin.

The group have said they will stay at the site until dawn on Sunday but have promised a peaceful demonstration.

Police said more than 3,000 officers and 1,000 soldiers were on hand to guard government offices and search the crowd for trouble-makers.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has placed the national police chief in control of security but said he had drafted a document to invoke an internal security law that gives more power to the army in case the rally turns sour.

The Red Shirts stormed a key Asian summit on the Thai coast on April 11, forcing its cancellation, before rampaging through the capital, leaving two people dead and 123 injured, and prompting Abhisit to declare emergency rule.

Protesters clashed with security forces in Bangkok over two days but finally dispersed after troops surrounded them and threatened to move them by force.

British-born Abhisit returned late Saturday from an official visit to China without addressing reporters.

Since Thaksin was ousted, Thai society has been deeply split between his supporters among the largely rural poor and the powerful Bangkok cliques in the palace, military and bureaucracy.

The kingdom has been wracked for months by rival rallies.

Opponents of Thaksin, known as "Yellow Shirts", staged protests last year that led to a nine-day blockade of Bangkok's airports and left more than 300,000 visitors stranded, badly denting the kingdom's tourist-friendly image.

Jatuporn criticised the lack of legal action against the rival protesters.

"The cases against the (Yellow Shirts) are not going anywhere. No one was prosecuted for occupying the airports and Government House," he said. "Where's the justice?"

AFP 28.06.2009

article here

I know this is the part where everyone will think I deserved what I got, and that is ok if you do, the truth is, I wasn't drunk, but had had my last beer within 20 minutes of the breathalizer machine, a total of 5 beers for the night.