Thaksin slams anti-Yingluck website

Thaksin slams anti-Yingluck website

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sunday attacked a newly launched website opposing his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thaksin Shinawatra (AFP file photo)

Thaksin, speaking on Skype, told red-shirts gathering at Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday night that the Thai Spring website would never "be sprung" and disturb his supporters.

Retired Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn and former senator Kaewsun Atibodhi unveiled Thai Spring on Thursday as a new venue to air opposition to Prime Minister Yingluck and her government.

The website was created after the controversial speech by Ms Yingluck in Mongolia on April 29. 

The self-exiled convicted prime minister defended Ms Yingluck, who said in the speech that the military coup in 2006, which ousted her elder brother, put an end to the progress of democracy in the country.

Critics cried foul over the speech, saying the prime minister was telling only a half truth and intentionally hid the fact of alleged corruption and interference in independent agencies by Thaksin as the reasons leading to the decision by the armed forces to unseat him.

Tida Tavornseth, chair of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), praised those killed during the April and May clashes three years ago and described them as “heroes who sacrificed their lives in peaceful battles to reclaim the people’s powers and restore true democracy to Thailand”.

Speaking to a crowd of at least 20,000 UDD supporters, Mrs Tida demanded justice for the people who were killed, injured and incarcerated during and after the 2010 event and urged the state to “expose the truth” to Thai society and the international community.     

She called on the legislative and administrative branches to push ahead with the amendment of the 2007 Constitution so that the new charter would truly belong to the people.

She urged the enactment of reconciliation law to annul convictions and punishments against all political offenders of all colour groups except those who were to be held responsible for the violent crackdown against the red-shirt protesters. They must be legally punished, she said.

Red shirt supporters led by Tida Tavornseth, centre, gather to commemorate the 2010 violence. Mrs Tida urged the government to "expose the truth" about the violent crackdown to the Thai and international communities. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

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