Thaksin Begs For "Royal Kindness"

[Jai Dee]

90,000 Thais gather to hear former PM Thaksin's address

About 90,000 supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra gathered in a Bangkok stadium Saturday to await his audio address, raising fears of clashes with rival protesters.

Clad in red shirts signalling their pro-government and pro-Thaksin stance, fans of the ousted ex-PM began arriving at Rajamangala sports stadium in Bangkok's eastern outskirts early in the morning.

The former premier, who fled to Britain in early August following his wife's conviction for tax evasion, is due to telephone the rally from an undisclosed location abroad at 8:00pm (1300 GMT).

Special Branch police said only a few seats remained empty at the sports ground.

"I think the number of crowd is maximum 90,000," an officer, who would not be named, said.

An army colonel told AFP that more than 2,000 troops were on standby in case the police required their assistance.

Jatuporn Prompan, an MP from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), said earlier that 100,000 people were expected to show up to hear the former premier speak.

Jatuporn told AFP Thaksin "will speak for an unlimited time on whatever topic he wants."

It will be Thaksin's first address to supporters since leaving the kingdom and being sentenced in absentia on October 21 to two years in jail for violating corruption laws.

Thai society is split between those who love or loathe the twice-elected multi-millionaire.

His fans, calling themselves the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), come mostly from the country's majority rural poor and say they are upholding democracy.

His detractors, represented by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), have occupied the grounds of the prime minister's offices since August calling for the government to step down.

They claim the PPP, which was elected in December last year, is running the country on behalf of Thaksin, whom they accuse of corruption and nepotism.

PAD protests in early 2006 helped lead to the coup that unseated Thaksin later that year. The return to power of his allies angered the PAD and the old military and bureaucratic power elite in the palace.

Crowds of PAD supporters descended on the British embassy on Thursday to demand Britain extradites Thaksin, who still faces trial on many other corruption charges.

Thailand's current prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat -- Thaksin's brother-in-law -- has been under increasing pressure to resign since bloody clashes on October 7 between PAD supporters and police left two people dead and nearly 500 others injured.

On Thursday further violence left two volunteer PAD security guards in a critical condition after a hand grenade was tossed at one of their protest camps in front of the regional UN headquarters in Bangkok.

A grenade was also thrown at a judge's house and a man was found shot dead near the rally site.

Somchai, visiting Chiang Mai, told reporters he was concerned about clashes between protesters on Saturday and urged both sides to be peaceful.

"I worry a third party could exploit the situation so I ask both sides to be extremely cautious... Our country has already suffered a lot," he said.

PAD organiser Suriyasai Katasila said the group would not confront the pro-government rally.

"The PAD will not move from its stronghold at Government House to confront the UDD. The PAD has stepped up security measures to the maximum," Suriyasai wrote on the group's website.

"PAD will monitor closely the phone-in by Thaksin," he added.

Source: AFP - 01 November 2008

[Scott]

How long are these people planning on staying in BKK? An extended stay could cause problems.

[Koo82]

I'm so happy seeing I'm not the only one who loves Khun Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai / PPP.

90,000 people is not minority.

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin makes phone-in to address supporters now

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra make a phone call to address his supporters at the Rajamangala Stadium at 8:50 pm.

He greeted the supporters as "the people who love democracy".

He said he would like to come to visit his supporters but he could not because he was under 2-year jail term, which would force him to remain abroad for at least 10 years.

Source: The Nation - 01 November 2008

[Sunderland]

Thaksin makes phone-in to address supporters now

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra make a phone call to address his supporters at the Rajamangala Stadium at 8:50 pm.

He greeted the supporters as "the people who love democracy".

He said he would like to come to visit his supporters but he could not because he was under 2-year jail term, which would force him to remain abroad for at least 10 years.

Source: The Nation - 01 November 2008

What a waste of a long journey down from upcountry just to hear that. How crap would you feel if you were one of them?

Earlier pictures on TNN showed PAD had built up their defences this evening by parking plenty of cars outside the main gates.

So are the red shirts off down the pub for a few beers on the pull; gonna go and sort out the yellow shirts, or gonna jump on their buses, go home and think about breakfast?

[Los78]

How long are these people planning on staying in BKK? An extended stay could cause problems.

Why should it cause problems? They have every right to stay in BKK how long they want too. It just shows what huge numbers are against PAD mob rule of BKK and what would happen if the military ever tried to take over again.

[Sunderland]

How long are these people planning on staying in BKK? An extended stay could cause problems.

Why should it cause problems? They have every right to stay in BKK how long they want too. It just shows what huge numbers are against PAD mob rule of BKK and what would happen if the military ever tried to take over again.

I don't think the numbers supporting the 'reds' or the 'yellows' is particularly significant in the scheme of things. The biggest group is the group that don't give a toss ... hence the fact that this whole political circus is set to run and run and run well into 2009 ...

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin says coup deprived country of workaholic PM

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra told his supporters at the Rajamangala Stadium that the 2006 coup had fired a workaholic PM like him.

Addressing his supporters through a phone call Saturday night, Thaksin said the coup instead got a retire-age man to run the country.

Source: The Nation - 01 November 2008

[Guest Reimar]

How to tell? That's the "real" Thaksin Shinawatra? Never ever anything important is true what he promisses?!

And who know that there was really a phone call from Mr. TS if that call was going to the phone of Mr. Weera and not just a kind "programmed" call for to keep the people down?!

Anyway it's very suspicious!

Cheers.

[jingjingna]

What a farce!

The red shirts had nothing to hear from 'the horse's mouth'...huge disappointment for his fans! Am I alone in thinking that Thaksin would have addressed his supporters via satellite t.v or from a 'live' telephone broadcast?

By the way, the legal system were prevented from intercepting the 'call', no doubt the news headlines in the morning regarding the so called telephone 'phone in' , it will be edited and adapted to favour Thaksin, of course!

[Jai Dee]

MESSAGE FROM EXILE

Thaksin begs for "royal kindness"

Ousted and convicted leader said only "kindness" of HM the King or "power of the people" could bring him home.

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra told tens of thousands of his supporters Saturday evening that "nobody" could bring him back to Thailand except "royal kindness" or "power of the people."

The long-distance message was conveyed to the mass gathering at the Rajamankala Stadium, which was jampacked with people in red-shirts, the biggest show of support so far for the controversial former leader.

"Nobody can bring me back to Thailand, except royal kindness of HM the King or the power of the people," Thaksin said. He also claimed that many countries have offered him "honorary citizenship", "which made me a bit sad because I could do many things for anybody else in the world, but nothing now for my country."

Talking about his financial situation, he said his sale of the Manchester City Football Club to Arab billionaires, which reportedly gave him a doubled profit, "gave me enough to support my family."

Tens of thousands of supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra started gathering at the Rajamangala Stadium Saturday afternoon to hear the speech of their ousted leader.

They occupied most of 70,000 seats in the stadium and packed the field. Police security was tight.

Most of them came arrived on buses from northern and northeastern provinces. Thousands came to wait outside the Hua Mak stadium even before the compound of the stadium was open.

The organisers of the event titled Truth Today Against Coup had to open the gates of the stadium at about 11:45 am ahead of the initial schedule at 1 pm.

The three hosts of Truth Today talk show - Jatuporn Promphan, Veera Musigapong, and Korkaew Pikulthong - at 1:45 pm drew cheers from the audience inside the stadium.

They went on stage along with Government Spokesman Natthawut Saikua, who remained on the stage for about 10 minutes to receive flowers from government's supporters.

Later on, all leading members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship went up on the stage to join the talk show held to show moral support for their ousted leader and to denounce his opponents.

Those appearing on the stage included former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair. Jakrapob came up on the stage at 2:15 pm and received warm welcome.

Thaksin's mother-in-law, Pojanee na Pomphet, and several leading People Power Party MPs, including Samarn Lertwongrat and Sunai Julapongsathorn, also came to the rally.

Chaturon Chaisaeng, former leader of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, also came to the rally to sell his look thung album for Bt100 a CD. He also gave his autograph to those who bought his music CDs.

Jakprapob also helped sell red T-shirts for Bt180 each. The former minister also gave his autograph to those who bought the T-shirts.

The event organisers also sold a book and VCD, both titled "the People's Alliance for Democracy members kill people".

The organisers also gathered signatures of the participants to file a petition to seek a royal pardon for Thaksin who has been given a jail term for committing conflicts of interest.

The pro-Thaksin demonstrators were also shown videos related to the September 2006 coup.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law who opted to visit Chiang Mai, said he feared that a third party might take the chance to create situation.

About 1,000 crowd control police have been deployed to keep security at the Rajamangala Stadium, Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano said.

He said some 2,000 policemen have been on standby and ready to provide reinforcements if an untoward incident happens.

Source: The Nation - 01 November 2008

[jdinasia]

I'm so happy seeing I'm not the only one who loves Khun Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai / PPP.

90,000 people is not minority.

90,000 is what % of

63,000,000?

You and Giles have much in common!

[marquess]

This is very dangerous ground that Toxic is skating on asking for Royal Kindness, as it publicly seeks to put HM on the spot. Then the latter is for all intents and purposes above politics and such matter of clemency are done via the Privy Council.

[jingjingna]

I agree with Marquess 100%. How dare Thaksin. Shame on him.

Do the crime face the time. Quite simple really!

[midas]

I agree with Marquess 100%. How dare Thaksin. Shame on him.

Do the crime face the time. Quite simple really!

I would go even further - I say " of with his head " !

[jingjingna]

Too dam_n right!

[frodo]

Thaksin's supporters start dispersing after his call

Supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra started leaving the Rajamangala Stadium after the ousted leader finished his phone-in address Saturday night.

At 9:05 pm, people started leaving and many removed their red T-shirts before leaving the stadium's compound.

The Nation

"I got my money so I won't be needing this red shirt anymore."

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/r...newsid=30087397

[Koo82]

What a waste of a long journey down from upcountry just to hear that. How crap would you feel if you were one of them?

Why waste? Last meeting they didn't expect any phone call and 50,000 people came.

They came to show that they don't support the PAD and they don't support another coup.

They came to show that PAD is not majority of Thais as PAD claimed.

[lectito]

The current PM Somchai earlier flew up to Chiang Mai, while Thaksin is in Hong Kong saying... "people's power can bring him back to Thailiand"?

Does anyone happen to know if there are direct flights from Hong Kong to Chiang Mai? The conspiracy theories that one could read into things...

[Koo82]

I'm so happy seeing I'm not the only one who loves Khun Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai / PPP.

90,000 people is not minority.

90,000 is what % of

63,000,000?

You and Giles have much in common!

How many are there in the PAD? And someone said PAD is majority of Thais who fights for democracy.

[Koo82]

"I got my money so I won't be needing this red shirt anymore."

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/r...newsid=30087397

They have a reason to fear. They wear the red shirt and some yellows can kill them.

[ratcatcher]

MESSAGE FROM EXILE

Thaksin begs for "royal kindness"

Ousted and convicted leader said only "kindness" of HM the King or "power of the people" could bring him home.

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra told tens of thousands of his supporters Saturday evening that "nobody" could bring him back to Thailand except "royal kindness" or "power of the people." Ain't gonna happen mate.

The long-distance message was conveyed to the mass gathering at the Rajamankala Stadium, which was jampacked with people in red-shirts, the biggest show of support so far for the controversial former leader.

"Nobody can bring me back to Thailand, except royal kindness of HM the King or the power of the people," Thaksin said. He also claimed that many countries have offered him "honorary citizenship", China, Congo, Libya, North Korea and Zimbabwe to name a few of the more popular ones.) "which made me a bit sad because I could do many things for anybody else in the world, but nothing now for my country."

Talking about his financial situation, he said his sale of the Manchester City Football Club to Arab billionaires, which reportedly gave him a doubled profit, "gave me enough to support my family."

And just about everyone in Isaan too.

Tens of thousands of supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra started gathering at the Rajamangala Stadium Saturday afternoon to hear the speech of their ousted leader.

They occupied most of 70,000 seats in the stadium and packed the field. Police security was tight.

Most of them came arrived on buses from northern and northeastern provinces. Thousands came to wait outside the Hua Mak stadium even before the compound of the stadium was open.

The organisers of the event titled Truth Today Against Coup had to open the gates of the stadium at about 11:45 am ahead of the initial schedule at 1 pm.

The three hosts of Truth Today talk show - Jatuporn Promphan, Veera Musigapong, and Korkaew Pikulthong - at 1:45 pm drew cheers from the audience inside the stadium.

They went on stage along with Government Spokesman Natthawut Saikua, who remained on the stage for about 10 minutes to receive flowers from government's supporters.

Later on, all leading members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship went up on the stage to join the talk show held to show moral support for their ousted leader and to denounce his opponents.

Those appearing on the stage included former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair. Jakrapob came up on the stage at 2:15 pm and received warm welcome.

Thaksin's mother-in-law, Pojanee na Pomphet, and several leading People Power Party MPs, including Samarn Lertwongrat and Sunai Julapongsathorn, also came to the rally.

Chaturon Chaisaeng, former leader of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, also came to the rally to sell his look thung album for Bt100 a CD. He also gave his autograph to those who bought his music CDs.

Jakprapob also helped sell red T-shirts for Bt180 each. The former minister also gave his autograph to those who bought the T-shirts.

The event organisers also sold a book and VCD, both titled "the People's Alliance for Democracy members kill people".

The organisers also gathered signatures of the participants to file a petition to seek a royal pardon for Thaksin who has been given a jail term for committing conflicts of interest.

The pro-Thaksin demonstrators were also shown videos related to the September 2006 coup.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law who opted to visit Chiang Mai, said he feared that a third party might take the chance to create situation.

About 1,000 crowd control police have been deployed to keep security at the Rajamangala Stadium, Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano said.

He said some 2,000 policemen have been on standby and ready to provide reinforcements if an untoward incident happens.

Source: The Nation - 01 November 2008

What a load of old <deleted>!

[jitagon]

The nice ridley scott pano of the stadium packed to gunnels with red shirts reminded me of the 'pro government' rallies in Burma shortly after the, sadly long forgotten by the world, putsch for democracy by the long suffering burmese.

I mean, really. Where have all these vehemently pro Taksin supporters been for the past five months or so? Bit odd only a couple of hundred have showed up at any one time in the past, dontchathink?

[Xangsamhua]

I'm so happy seeing I'm not the only one who loves Khun Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai / PPP.

90,000 people is not minority.

It's nice to be happy, but 90,000 people is neither a minority or a majority. It's simply the number of people who were bussed into the stadium through whatever incentives and strategies were required for that purpose.

The 90,000 might represent the voice of the poor farmers, or perhaps just their local grandees - those who wield the power and have the real voice in the countryside. It would appear from the Bangkok gubernatorial elections, however, that the 90,000 represent only about 25% of the Bangkok electorate. Do the 90,000 represent a majority of Thai citizens with a secondary or higher education? Does this number represent a majority of Thais who are no longer tolerant of flagrant and gross levels of corruption? Perhaps the 90,000, who presumably believe criminality is an acceptable aspect of populism, reflect those who say they don't care.

We are starting to hear the language of moral equivalence, as we did during the Cold War, when Soviet dictatorship was seen to be morally equivalent to US imperialism. Now we are presented with the UDD as the legitimate equivalent of PAD, but the PAD leaders have not been charged or convicted on any grounds of corruption or theft. The middle-aged and elderly people, women and families that comprise the bulk of daily PAD attendances (from my observation) have not been bussed in in large numbers for a one-off Nuremberg-style rally such as we've seen tonight. The PAD have been invariably right in their analysis, though most agree their "New Politics" needs more discussion. The UDD and their PPP backers seem to have only one agendum, to overturn the law and the constitution in favour of their Leader, a man whose criminality has been established, but whose resources can buy him loyalty in a patronal society.

Well-resourced political leaders throughout the world have always been able to mobilize the numbers. It tells us nothing about minorities or majorities.

[Thanh-BKK]

It just shows what huge numbers are against PAD mob rule of BKK and what would happen if the military ever tried to take over again.

Nope.

All it shows that the one paying the red shirts has a LARGE wallet. Think about it - PAD protests on the streets (ok Government house, but they had to seize that first!) while UDD or DAAD or whatever they call themselves (red shirts) can rent a whole stadium? And bus in TENS OF THOUSANDS of people from upcountry??

Money talks, nothing else.

Thanh

[Plus]

Khun Thaksin cleared all the IMF loans. That is all that matters.

At the time of the last payment, when Thaksin was waving that huge Thai flag, the outstanding balance was only 350 million dollars out of total 17 billion pledged in 1997.

At that time, in 2003, some economists pointed out that this money would have been better spend in this country as IMF interest rate was very low, the government would have had better return from investing it in Thailand and paying whatever interest was due if they kept to the original schedule rather than make a political show of repaying debts earlier and sending money out of the country. But the political returns were more important than actual benefits for Thaksin.

Hope you are not one of those idiots who believed that he paid IMF from his own pocket.

If I interpret this correctly (I pray I do not) the thrust of this is that because he perceives one model of what he describes as "representative" democracy as being less than adequate..

"Less than adequate" - in Thailand it's a fuc_king disaster, and I'm not the first one to say so, and no one sees any hope that this so called "people power" government openly working for criminal fugitve Thaksin would improve in any way, not matter how many elections they win.

If you look around - there's not a single successful democracy in these parts of the world when it comes to governing - bottom up democracies here fail spectacularly. Practically ANY other system works better - from communist Vietnam and China to dictatorial Cambodia to totalitarian Singapore and Malaysia.

"New politics" proposal, if it delivers, will be the most open successful system in SEA. Far more representative and responsible than in any Asean country.

>>>>

I don't understand you fixation with removing 70% MPs - just don't propose their names for the next selection process. Try removing your local feudal lord from power and you get shot, 'cos he holds all the keys to your well being and your right to live. Police won't help you, local govt won't help you, courts won't protect you - I can't comprehend how these mafia honchos that control local politics can be called "representative democracy".

>>>>

Thaksin's address has been rather disappointing non-event. Ok, his fans got a chance of a lifetime to hear his voice coming from a speaker, and that's about it.

[ratcatcher]

Could 90,000 of these fit in Rajamangla stadium?

[frodo]

"I got my money so I won't be needing this red shirt anymore."

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/r...newsid=30087397

They have a reason to fear. They wear the red shirt and some yellows can kill them.

Besides the one person killed a few months ago, the "yellow shirts" have not killed anyone. So far there have been more deaths and violence incited against the "yellow shirts". Really, they have nothing to fear at all.

[Bangyai]

What a waste of a long journey down from upcountry just to hear that. How crap would you feel if you were one of them?

Why waste? Last meeting they didn't expect any phone call and 50,000 people came.

They came to show that they don't support the PAD and they don't support another coup.

They came to show that PAD is not majority of Thais as PAD claimed.

Agreed. The main point of this gathering was to demonstrate that there are a lot of Thais that do not agree at all with PAD's vision of the future. Most people would agree that the PAD are very astute political activists . The core leaders have a lot of influence and contol over the rank and file followers.

By contrast, the UDD gathering seemed to be composed of a lot of people who ordinarily would not take much interest in politics. The adverage up country Joe. They have traveled to the big city mostly to express solidarity with the govournment. It is clear that at least these people would prefer a proxy Taksin leadership than what is being proposed by the PAD, which to a lot of observers, both Thai and foreign, seems dangerously nationalistic and a move away from the current freedom of expression that has taken so many years to evolve..

The following link to an article in prachatai along the same lines :

www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=848

[thaigene2]

We all know the real test is not the goofs on TV making their boring comments about Thaksin (whom many of us agree is corrupt), but how the Bangkok Post reports this in the morning. Look how long it took them to admit the 2 September murder was at the hands of the PAD - full photos in the Newspapers - <snip>

And none at the poor rural kids in the army getting killed everyday in the south now are there? Nope - they don't count I guess.

The Thai media are stifled and cannot report the truth - EVERYONE IN THE WORLD NOW KNOWS THIS NOW - except the fascist Thais, and for some reason their sympathetic farang morons on this little Thaivisa Website.

90,000 poor people coming to Bangkok on a Saturday is a REALLY big deal for this event given all the publicity the other side has received (even if transport is paid - so what anyway - like the PAD's murderous guards aren't paid?)

Let's see - it should be the headlien front page big photo - have you the guts Bangkok Post - of course the Nation is a write off...a joke. As are their editors who routinely fill this Website with their garbage.