VIENTIANE : Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Laos today to celebrate Songkran has done little to stir people in the capital Vientiane.
"We did not prepare anything to welcome Thaksin. We'll still go about our daily lives. His visit to Laos means very little to us us," company director Soukhakhone Bouangboubphar said.
Mr Bouangboubphar believes Thaksin's visit has less to do with politics, than with celebrating Songkran with his supporters.
Most locals in Vientiane seemed to be unaware of the imminent arrival of the exiled politician, who is expected to get into town at 11am today.
A number of members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have already travelled to Vientiane. Yesterday, Charan Ditthapichai arrived in the city at around 10.30am.
However, Kwanchai Praipana, the leader of the Love Udon People faction, has not yet arrived.
A red shirt source said most people who wanted to meet Thaksin would reach Vientiane today. The Lao government had earlier asked the UDD to limit the number of its members who would travel to the capital, and to tell supporters not to wear red shirts in Laos.
The Lao government has been concerned that their red shirts could trigger some political problems, said the source.
Thaksin reportedly plans to make merit in Laos and allow his red shirt supporters to give him a Thai New Year blessing.
Tomorrow, he is expected to leave Vientiane for Siem Reap in Cambodia.
While in the Lao capital, the former prime minister will stay at the Lao Plaza Hotel, which has ramped up security for the arrival of his entourage. Wichai na Vientiane, the owner of Asean Mall in the capital, said the Songkran blessing event for Thaksin will be held at his department store.
Thaksin's visit has been welcomed by the Lao government, he added.
In Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thaksin and thousands of his supporters would be in the country between Saturday and Monday, during which time the two are scheduled to play golf.
Hun Sen said the relationship between Phnom Penh and Bangkok has improved during the Yingluck Shinawatra administration. He also encouraged both and Cambodian military commanders along the shared border to turn themselves into diplomats and help foster good ties between the two countries.
Sou Phirin, the governor of Siem Reap, has said he expects 40,000 red shirts to arrive in the city from Friday. The authorities have prepared a 94-rai compound to accommodate them.