Thaksin Begs For "Royal Kindness"

[frodo]

More from Thaksin's talk:

"I has received a two year sentence. Charges were made against my family and even my secretary was not excluded. My family was left shattered…but my troubles are minor when compared to yours. I can bear it, but the country will be in ruins," he said.

Yes, such a poor and helpless family. Just how many families were left in total shatters with his war on drugs? Gotta love the part where he states, "...I can bear it, but the country will be in ruins." As old Takky and family sit in their ivory towers people will suffer. That's okay, Takky can bear it. What a prick!

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=131772

[Los78]

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

**unsubstantiated flame removed---sbk**

In the article it did not mention anything about money for wearing red tshirts.

[animatic]

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!

He could EASILY have done a satalite video feed direct to a in stadium dish from ANYWHERE

and especially easily from Hong Kong or Singpore. And London just as easily.

Not a technical issue at all, Fortune 500 companies do this DAILY just to have business conference.

Could have been on big screen 50 feet high and not dropped the curtain on it till the last second.

Hey folks we have a suprise for you..! ZING! Tacky bigger than life!

But curiously they didn't.

Did say it was the ONLY King Or People Power...

the last is not too subtle CODE for peoples uprisings IMHO.

Thank the lord someone didn't let him think about the big TV feed...

[kimincm]

I've just got home and tried to get in, and on this thread, it's a massive read bordering on the impossible

for my tiny brain, if the PM let's any phone call go through,does this not show his complicity and allegiance

to a convicted criminal,I thought aiding and abetting a criminal was an offence, in many countries

occasioning a gaol sentence.

I really don't understand, if this action of the P.A.DEMOCRACY party,

this informed ,educated, all knowing minority group is any example of the style of governance they

purport to support, then you give me the uneducated country 'plebs' everytime, at least they are not

fakers and bullshiters. DEMOCRACY nobody in any position in this current cabinet has the slightest inkling

of what this word means,isn't it amazing, the supposed intelligencia, don't even know what the word

means.So what chance does anybody stand of seeing it enacted.

I'm sitting here in total confusion,I don't know what to think, don't know what to say, I had so much to

say when I started, it's all drifted away in the mind boggling insanity of what I'm watching.

Okay PAD, a thought has come to me through the fog, we go the whole hog, we disband the

DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT we even go as far as to give power to PAD the UNELECTED

MINORITY, one proviso though, if one of your holier than thou team is ever charged with corruption,

something we know you despise and abhor, you, as a party will <deleted>> off and never raise your self righteous

heads in Thai politics again.This should be no trouble if you've got a clean team, if you've got a clean

team, IMPOSSIBLE, so you cant do it, but your opponents can't do it either, oh. that's seems to be Thais.

dil

emna, they can't come up with 300/400, whatever it is ,good men in a population of 60,000,000.

And here I think, is a classic, I don't think you would have any trouble finding 300/400??? farangs,expats

skilled enough, sincere enough, straight enough to do a better job of guiding sad little country deeper into

the 21st. century, I would even go as far as to say, love this country more than it's current overseers,

I'll just stop, I don't know who I'm aiming this at any more, none of them are any good. What a shame.

[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!

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

Someone said?

who is someone?

[animatic]

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.

Neither is this red shirt crew. End of story.

50k is a small number eSpecialy when there was an active recruiting and busing drive to do it.

A manufactured event nothing more nothing less, but a discrete call to civil war included.

Can't get 90,000 out of a CITY of 14 million without bringing them from the country....Pathetic.

The whorehouse thug got more votes for slapping a TV anchor.. if you REALLY want it in perspective...

Don't try and say Bangkok is ALL middle class intelectual elites either,

there are plenty of up country folk working in the big B too. Likely the majority.

Shameful pandering on all sides.

Edited November 1, 2008 by animatic

[animatic]

"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.

Wear the red pepper and get eaten alive,

then give bad digestion.

[animatic]

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.

The place only holds 70,000 and was reported not full.

90,000 is <deleted>. Best inflated estimate 50k

Edited November 1, 2008 by animatic

[sabaijai]

Thaksin begs for "royal kindness"

By The Nation

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.

[relayer]

I say fine him up to the amount of his ill-gotten gains and then sentence him to a noodle shop review of all of Thailand.......

[tominbkk]

So then when is the march to Government House?

[Livinginexile]

One day he will be back. People power will dictate that.

He was the legally elected P.M that was ousted by a fasist minority gang of thugs.

This is what the ruling elite, that is backed by the army, does when the common people start to get some power in Thailand.

And they have the audacity to call themselves "Peoples alliance for Democracy"

What a joke.

Long live Khun Thaksin

[sabaijai]

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

[ratcatcher]

"Thaksin begs for "royal kindness"

By The Nation

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

The nerve of this guy Thaksin. Why should any "kindness" be shown, particularly by that special person?

As for "people power" bringing him home, what the h-ll does that mean?

The man fled the country as a coward and criminal. He can come home any day he chooses, all he has to do is get on a plane.

The only problem is he doesn't want to spend any time in a 5 star jail. His ego won't allow that.

The best thing that could happen to him is that the British grant him "dishonorable" citizenship.

[jdinasia]

Thaksin begs for "royal kindness"

By The Nation

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

"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."

This was the message of the evening ..... and left so vague that when his thugs resort to even MORE violence which has already cost one of them their lives ... he can have plausible deniability when it all hits the fan ....

I heard it as a threat ~~~ Pardon me, OR ELSE~~~

The problem is ... he broke the law .. (and so many times it is hard to keep track!)

[unforgiven]

One day he will be back. People power will dictate that.

He was the legally elected P.M that was ousted by a fasist minority gang of thugs.

This is what the ruling elite, that is backed by the army, does when the common people start to get some power in Thailand.

And they have the audacity to call themselves "Peoples alliance for Democracy"

What a joke.

Long live Khun Thaksin

what a joke and what a testament to braiwashing. The guy goons the country and still they don't get it. I can understand his rich minions wanting him back so the can keep bleeding the buffalo's, people should keep an eye on them there odviosly corrupt. Pathetically those uneducated rurals really take the cake , someone needs to draw them a picture in language the can understand if they realized the truth they'd be quite angry about what fools they've been made. Ironically Toxin was for increased education....with his bent on it I'm sure.................Jail the bum

[cclub75]

"Nobody can bring me back to Thailand, except royal kindness of HM the King or the power of the people,"

I heard it as a threat ~~~ Pardon me, OR ELSE~~~

I agree with you. It sounds strange.

And he puts on the same level the king and the people... one could substitute itself to the other....

I think some people will be upset by such rethoric.

But I don't trust the report in english (particularily from the Nation)... We would need the original statement in thai.

[Sunderland]

"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.

Maybe the blues and the greens will unite with the pinks and string up the reds and yellows.

[jitagon]

Ah jeeezuz. Do you think if everyone ignored him for the petulant little git he is, he'd just shut up and actually take up the retirement from politics he's been promising? No. Me neither. yawn.

[Los78]

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.

The place only holds 70,000 and was reported not full.

90,000 is <deleted>. Best inflated estimate 50k

Maybe next time you can use a counter to get a exact number for your arguements. It doesnt matter if it was 70,000 or 90,000 or over 100,000. The fact is that a lot of people will spend their Saturdays showing their support for true democracy in Thailand and not a backward Elite appointed government proposed by PAD. It must be hard to see so many Thais not agreeing with your ideas for the PAD utopia all of a sudden. Dont worry Im sure Sondhi and his mob crew are planning away and they are sure to have some events to stir the pot.

[jdinasia]

Los78

Any group with a bit of cash (and nobody doubts that Thaksin's mob has access to cash) can put some asses in seats for a night. No telling if many of them believed in anything being presented, though I am sure some did!

It does take some serious belief in something to show up, day after day, night after night, month after month in all kinds of weather.

I have no doubt that some people really are so blind that they don't see the problems that Thaksin created. Obviously some people even in this forum don't understand that you can't call something a democracy when the elections are rigged. You can't call a leader democratic if he tears down the institutions that uphold the democratic process like the courts etc. Thaksin started as a leader in a Democracy and ended up as an 'elected?' dictator ... that just is not democracy anywhere

[roamer]

"Nobody can bring me back to Thailand, except royal kindness of HM the King or the power of the people,"

I heard it as a threat ~~~ Pardon me, OR ELSE~~~

I agree with you. It sounds strange.

And he puts on the same level the king and the people... one could substitute itself to the other....

I think some people will be upset by such rethoric.

But I don't trust the report in english (particularily from the Nation)... We would need the original statement in thai.

We heard it on a mobile from the stadium, no Thai keyboard here but we believe we heard the "reua" "or" and people here a little shocked.

People have also commented that its strange given his business background, telecoms, satellites etc that this was audio only but that could well have been a step too far for the British government and I think he was made well aware of that.

Its worth mentioning that he is very limited here in his options; he entered here before he was convicted. If he were now to leave the country then there is a very real risk that he would be refused entry due to unresolved convictions. Certainly his lawyers would be advising him that he needs to remain within the jurisdiction of the European Human Rights Act to avoid or prolong any extradition attempts.

The Uk has a history of exiled leaders waiting here till the people seize power...maybe he is hoping......

[basjke]

Thaksin begs for "royal kindness"

By The Nation

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

Should this read PPP?

[jdinasia]

no

[LaoPo]

The place only holds 70,000 and was reported not full.

90,000 is <deleted>. Best inflated estimate 50k

What do you care if there were....50, 60, 70 or 90,000 ? The total would be probably more than all people on Samui this moment

Claiming "<deleted>" if you haven't been there or based upon the photos/images in the papers/tv is a risky thing to say; the same for "Best inflated estimate..". You're just wildly guessing.

"They occupied most of 70,000 seats in the stadium and packed the field"

From The Nation:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Police-Fire-...75#entry2307175

But, again, what do you care ?

LaoPo

[Artisi]

Can I be first to start the rumour that people were paid Bht 200, supplied with transport and given food to attend - the money was under the seats

Edited November 1, 2008 by Artisi

[roamer]

Can I be first to start the rumour that people were paid Bht 200, supplied with transport and given food to attend - the money was under the seats

Well thats less than the PAD supporters were rumoured to be getting....normally the better funded parties win out.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin greets his supporters, calls for sympathy

Deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra phoned-in and greeted tens of thousands of his supporters who gathered at the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) rally at Rajamangala National Stadium on Saturday. UDD core member Veera Musikhapong, who co-hosts the Truth Today political talk show, received the former premier’s phone call at around 8.50pm.

“Good evening fellow citizens who love democracy. Can you remember my voice? I miss you…I cannot return yet because they have ordered me to serve two years in prison. However, I could not return so they now want to keep me for ten years. Do you want me to stay abroad for 10 years?” Thaksin asked.

He said he would like to conduct businesses abroad for a period of time and offer economic advice to poor countries.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=131772

==============================================

"cannot return" or will not return??? I believe there are daily flights from Hong Kong (or London) to Bangkok every day.

Edited November 1, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Fugitive ex-Thai PM addresses mass rally

Bangkok: Thailand’s fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday addressed a crowd of more than 60,000 supporters in a phoned-in call in which he said only a “royal pardon” or “people’s power” could bring him back to Thailand.

On October 21 the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail for abusing his power as prime minister in 2003 by allowing his wife to purchase a plot of land at a government auction.

“The statute of limitations on the sentence is ten years so I will stay away for a while,” said Thaksin, addressing via a live phone link a crowd of more than 60,000 supporters who had gathered at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok to attend the much-anticipated “Truth Today” demonstration.

“No one can bring me back to my homeland except the royal kindness of his majesty or the people’s power,” Thaksin added, in a first reference to Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

In a pre-recorded message Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, talked of the global economic crisis and how he would offer his services to other countries to help them deal with it.

“I can help other countries with their crises but some people don’t want me to help Thailand,” he said, highlighting his track record as a strong economic leader who was “crazy about working” when prime minister between 2001 to 2006.

Thaksin, a former billionaire, also claimed to have no money because Thai authorities had seized his assets, forcing him to sell Manchester City football club to raise cash. The family is known to have considerable assets abroad.

The event comes at a time when Thailand’s government is extremely fragile.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law, has been the target of nearly daily protests led by the PAD, calling for his resignation and the dissolution of parliament.

Somchai has been sharply criticized by the military and a broad swathe of Thai society for allowing police to attack PAD-followers with teargas canisters on October 7 after the anti-government movement had surrounded Parliament in an effort to prevent the official launch of the new administration. Two PAD followers died in the melee and 400 others were injured.

Thaksin’s recent conviction on abuse-of-power charges was deemed a major victory for the PAD, which accuses the former telecommunications tycoon-turned-politician of monopolising Thai politics through populist polices during his premiership for his own personal benefit and those of his cronies.

– DPA / 2008-11-01

[sriracha john]

Pro-government and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra listen to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra speak from overseas exile to his supporters at Rajamangala national stadium in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008.

Associated Press

================================================================

Thaksin Addresses Supporters in Thailand From Exile

Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra spoke by telephone to tens of thousands of supporters who filled a stadium in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, Saturday.

He told his supporters, who were wearing red shirts to signal their pro-government stance, that he could not return to Thailand because he had been sentenced to prison in Thailand. But he suggested a royal pardon could allow him to come home.

It was the first time Thaksin had spoken to supporters since he fled the country in August amid corruption charges. He has since been sentenced to two years in prison by a Thai court.

At least 2,000 police and soldiers were mobilized to guard against violence at the rally amid long-running political unrest in the capital.

A court removed Samak Sundaravej as prime minister in September. He was replaced by Somchai Wongsawat, who is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

Somchai is under increasing pressure to step down since a political protest turned violent October seventh in which two people were killed and more than 400 were injured.

- VOA News / 01 November 2008