Pro-Thaksin rallies grow
11 provinces join in as government stays calm
- Published: 31/03/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Rallies supporting former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra were held in more than 10 provinces on Monday, ratcheting up pressure on the government to resign.
"The intention of the red-shirt rally is clear. It is trying to provoke violence. But the government will not fall into this trap.We will be patient." SUTHEP THAUGSUBAN DEPUTYPRIMEMINISTER
The government paid little heed to the demonstrations to avoid any confrontation with the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, which has surrounded Government House since Thursday.
To further defuse tensions, it decided to cancel today's cabinet meeting, saying there were no urgent issues on the agenda.
Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva consulted with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on what was happening with the Government House rally before deciding to cancel the cabinet meeting, a cabinet source said.
Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, told the Bangkok Post the government would not use violent measures to crack down on the protesters.
"The intention of the red-shirt rally is clear. It is trying to provoke violence. But the government will not fall into this trap. We will be patient," he said.
Peaceful demonstrations to show support for Thaksin took place mostly in northern and northeastern provinces where the convicted former prime minister remains popular. They included Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Nan, Phayao, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen.
The red-shirt protesters rallied at provincial halls, with some deciding to camp out for the night. The demonstrators in Bangkok remained at their site outside Government House. Stages were erected outside provincial halls with broadcasts of the rally in Bangkok being relayed to the protesters.
They said they were waiting for a signal from UDD leaders in Bangkok to travel to the capital to join the rally at Government House.
They pledged to join their colleagues in Bangkok if the government moved to break up the rally at the prime minister's office.
The demonstrations in the other provinces were organised after Thaksin on Saturday urged his supporters across the country to stand up and show their strength, while making clear their opposition to non-politicians being involved in politics.
"We will keep fighting until we get democracy back," Thaksin said in a video broadcast from an unknown location to the rallies last night.
"This government was installed by a silent coup. It is not a democratic government. The coup was staged by the Constitution Court, the military and the Privy Council president," he said, referring to Gen Prem Tinsulanonda.
Thaksin has accused Gen Prem and privy councillor Surayud Chulanont of being involved in plotting the coup to topple him on Sept 19, 2006.
Thaksin pledged to return to Thailand to join his supporters in a move to pressure the coalition government if it uses force to break up the rally at Government House.
"We'll head to Bangkok from all directions. We won't budge and I will come in, too. Today, I am not coming because I don't want to cause trouble. But I'm not afraid," he said.
Kwanchai Praipana, radio host and leader of the Udon Thani-based pro-Thaksin group, said red-shirt protesters made a show of force nationwide because they were now aware of who "the charismatic extra-constitutional figure" was.
The term "charismatic extra-constitutional figure" was previously used by Thaksin to refer to Gen Prem.
Gen Prem yesterday met a group of alumni from Vajiravudh School in Songkhla. One of his close associates quoted him as telling the visitors he was not involved in the coup.
He admitted to having an audience with His Majesty the King on the day of the coup that toppled Thaksin. But that was in his capacity as Privy Council president when he learned of events. It was his duty to serve the King, the source said.
UDD leader Veera Musikhapong said Gen Prem's Si Sao Thewes residence in Bangkok would be a target again but refused to say when the demonstrators would surround the house.
As Thaksin steps up his fight against the government, the Foreign Ministry is expediting its efforts to extradite him.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the Thai embassy in the United Arab Emirates was arranging for talks with officials on the issue.
A ministry source said once the schedule was arranged, Thai legal experts from the ministry and the Office of the Attorney-General would hold talks to prepare for an extradition treaty with the Gulf state.
Thaksin has been using Dubai in the UAE as one of his bases after going into exile.
The ministry also plans to revoke his ordinary passport.
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- Writer: POST REPORTERS
