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Ousted Thai PM Thaksin to address thousands from exile
AFP - Sunday, December 14
BANGKOK (AFP) - - Thailand's ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra was due to address thousands of his supporters from exile Saturday as political tensions mounted two days ahead of a crucial vote for a new prime minister.
Thaksin, who is living abroad to dodge corruption charges, was to address a packed Bangkok stadium by phone late Saturday, 10 days after his allies in government were forced out by a court ruling that splintered their coalition.
A leader of the pro-Thaksin "Truth Today" group told AFP the ex-premier -- who still enjoys wide support among poor, rural Thais, especially in the north and northeast -- will accuse the army of meddling in Thai politics.
"Thaksin's speech will concentrate on the current political situation, especially the forming of a new government that the army has got involved in by snatching MPs," said the rally leader, Jatuporn Prompan.
The ex-premier will address the crowd via recorded message, and then in a live telephone conversation with another rally leader that will begin at 8:00 pm (1300 GMT) and last about an hour, Jatuporn said.
By early afternoon, police estimated 20,000 people were already inside Bangkok's National Stadium, which can hold 35,000 people.
Major General Witthaya Rattanavich said 1,000 police had been deployed around the building.
"So far there is no incident. Everything is running smoothly," he told AFP.
It will be Thaksin's second public address since leaving Thailand in August.
He has since been sentenced in absentia to two years in jail on corruption charges and has refused to confirm where he is living since he was forced to leave Britain in November when his visa was revoked.
Thaksin is also facing several other corruption charges.
The former premier was ousted in a 2006 coup following months of protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who took to the streets again this year, accusing the government of acting as his proxy.
After six months of protests which culminated in a blockade of Bangkok's airports that left 350,000 travellers stranded, the PAD finally stood down on December 3 when a court ruling forced premier Somchai Wongsawat from power and dissolved his People Power Party (PPP).
Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law. His allies have since regrouped under the newly formed Puea Thai (For Thais) party.
Many of Thaksin's loyal supporters travelled from the country's northeast for the rally. They began filtering into Bangkok's National Stadium before noon.
Most wore red to signify their allegiance to Thaksin -- some donned tops daubed with slogans such as "Thaksin, fight fight."
Thaksin's address comes as lawmakers prepare to vote for a new prime minister on Monday in a special parliamentary session that looks likely to oust his allies from power.
The PPP's ruling coalition has unravelled since the court decision, with some of the party's former members defecting to the opposition Democrats along with members of four smaller parties.
The Puea Thai party says the political manoeuvring is a result of intervention by army chief General Anupong Paojinda, who has admitted advising lawmakers on how to best resolve the crisis.
The Democrat party claims to have the support of 260 of the 438 lawmakers for Monday's vote, putting their leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in prime position to take the premiership.
But Puea Thai have refused to admit defeat, saying they can still muster the support to form a governing coalition.
On Friday, the PAD released their first statement since ending their eight-day seizure of Suvarnabhumi international airport, threatening to resume street protests if a new prime minister is chosen from the former ruling party.
The PAD is backed by elements of the military, palace and establishment, and draws support mainly from the Bangkok elite and middle classes.
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