He calls for unity even as he accuses military of meddling in politics
By Nirmal Ghosh 14 December 2008
BANGKOK - Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra told an estimated 50,000-strong crowd of red-shirted supporters last night that Thailand faced economic ruin if the political crisis continued.
He also accused the military of interfering in politics.
His pre-recorded video address came ahead of a crucial vote tomorrow for a new prime minister.
‘At the moment the army is interfering...Those people who interfere in forming the government must stop’ and allow political parties to sort out the issues by themselves, he said in a 15-minute speech to the crowd packed in Suphachalasai stadium.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup two years ago and is now in exile abroad, also pledged loyalty to the monarchy, and said that democratic systems should be allowed to function and the will of the majority heeded.
‘I don’t want to divide the country,’ he insisted, and repeatedly called for reconciliation and unity.
He said the political crisis stemmed from a ‘single misunderstanding over one word - disloyalty’ - referring to accusations by the right-wing, royalist People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that he is disloyal to Thailand’s King.
The speech comes nearly two weeks after his allies in the People Power Party were forced from power by a court order.
It was the latest turn in a long struggle between the Thaksin forces and the PAD, which is backed by elements of the military and Bangkok’s elite.
The struggle has led to paralysis in decision-making, street violence and severe economic disruption, not least from a recent week-long airport shutdown.
Thaksin warned last night: ‘In the end, the country will lose. And if Thailand is defeated, we are all defeated.’
His message was relayed to the hushed crowd via five giant screens in the stadium. The rally was also viewed by gatherings in other cities across the country through live webcasts.
‘Everybody is afraid, there is an atmosphere of fear...I am like a cornered dog,’ said Thaksin, who is currently in Bali. ‘Now I have no power, nothing left, but have I not done everything for the sake of the country?’
And in a reference to Mr. Newin Chidchob, once a loyalist MP who has tilted the political balance in favour of the Democrat Party, he said the people would remember the names of the ‘traitors’.
The address was controversial, coming two days before the vote in Parliament where the Democrats hope to form a government with a slim majority with the help of Mr. Newin’s breakaway faction.
According to reports, some of Mr. Newin’s MPs were being sequestered in houses to prevent them from being reached by Thaksin or joining the rally.
The red-shirted supporters began streaming into the stadium in the hundreds in the morning.
But apart from a brief skirmish with pro-PAD students from a vocational school nearby, the event, billed as a show of strength, passed off peacefully.
Other speakers last night included former minister Jakrapob Penkair, Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, and government spokesman Nattawut Saikuar.
They heaped scorn on Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva for his opportunism, and attacked the army for siding with the ‘criminal’ PAD and the Democrats.
‘The red shirts will not allow Abhisit Vejjajiva to claim he is a legitimate prime minister,’ Mr. Jakrapob told The Sunday Times on the sidelines.
The pro-Thaksin Puea Thai members insist they have a chance to prevent the Democrat leader from becoming Thailand’s fifth prime minister in just over two years.
Former human rights commissioner and democracy activist Jaran Ditta-apichai said: ‘We are not fighting for a person or group or party; we are fighting for democracy.’
Thaksin, who was ousted by the military in September 2006, still retains considerable support, especially among the northern rural voters.
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Thaksin: ‘Stop interfering’
He calls for unity even as he accuses military of meddling in politics
By Nirmal Ghosh
14 December 2008
BANGKOK - Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra told an estimated 50,000-strong crowd of red-shirted supporters last night that Thailand faced economic ruin if the political crisis continued.
He also accused the military of interfering in politics.
His pre-recorded video address came ahead of a crucial vote tomorrow for a new prime minister.
‘At the moment the army is interfering...Those people who interfere in forming the government must stop’ and allow political parties to sort out the issues by themselves, he said in a 15-minute speech to the crowd packed in Suphachalasai stadium.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup two years ago and is now in exile abroad, also pledged loyalty to the monarchy, and said that democratic systems should be allowed to function and the will of the majority heeded.
‘I don’t want to divide the country,’ he insisted, and repeatedly called for reconciliation and unity.
He said the political crisis stemmed from a ‘single misunderstanding over one word - disloyalty’ - referring to accusations by the right-wing, royalist People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that he is disloyal to Thailand’s King.
The speech comes nearly two weeks after his allies in the People Power Party were forced from power by a court order.
It was the latest turn in a long struggle between the Thaksin forces and the PAD, which is backed by elements of the military and Bangkok’s elite.
The struggle has led to paralysis in decision-making, street violence and severe economic disruption, not least from a recent week-long airport shutdown.
Thaksin warned last night: ‘In the end, the country will lose. And if Thailand is defeated, we are all defeated.’
His message was relayed to the hushed crowd via five giant screens in the stadium. The rally was also viewed by gatherings in other cities across the country through live webcasts.
‘Everybody is afraid, there is an atmosphere of fear...I am like a cornered dog,’ said Thaksin, who is currently in Bali. ‘Now I have no power, nothing left, but have I not done everything for the sake of the country?’
And in a reference to Mr. Newin Chidchob, once a loyalist MP who has tilted the political balance in favour of the Democrat Party, he said the people would remember the names of the ‘traitors’.
The address was controversial, coming two days before the vote in Parliament where the Democrats hope to form a government with a slim majority with the help of Mr. Newin’s breakaway faction.
According to reports, some of Mr. Newin’s MPs were being sequestered in houses to prevent them from being reached by Thaksin or joining the rally.
The red-shirted supporters began streaming into the stadium in the hundreds in the morning.
But apart from a brief skirmish with pro-PAD students from a vocational school nearby, the event, billed as a show of strength, passed off peacefully.
Other speakers last night included former minister Jakrapob Penkair, Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, and government spokesman Nattawut Saikuar.
They heaped scorn on Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva for his opportunism, and attacked the army for siding with the ‘criminal’ PAD and the Democrats.
‘The red shirts will not allow Abhisit Vejjajiva to claim he is a legitimate prime minister,’ Mr. Jakrapob told The Sunday Times on the sidelines.
The pro-Thaksin Puea Thai members insist they have a chance to prevent the Democrat leader from becoming Thailand’s fifth prime minister in just over two years.
Former human rights commissioner and democracy activist Jaran Ditta-apichai said: ‘We are not fighting for a person or group or party; we are fighting for democracy.’
Thaksin, who was ousted by the military in September 2006, still retains considerable support, especially among the northern rural voters.
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