Thai police tighten security as ousted premier plans phone-in rally

BANGKOK, Oct 31 (TNA) - Thailand's police will tighten security measures at Bangkok stadium on Saturday as ousted, fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, convicted of crimes against the state and people of Thailand, makes a live phone call from overseas to a rally organised by government supporters.

Bangkok's Metropolitan Police will set up checkpoints near the stadium from Friday night until the stadium doors open at 1pm Saturday. The rally, according to leaders of the pro-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) which organises the gathering, will close at 10 pm.

The military may be invited to join police in providing security on Saturday on fears that a clash could erupt between UDD members and anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters who may move to the rally site from Government House which they now occupy.

Veera Musikapong, one of the major organisers of Saturday's gathering and staunch supporter of Mr. Thaksin, said he expected about 100,000 people would attend the gathering which is aimed at "demanding democracy by peaceful means."

Mr. Veera said Mr. Thaksin is now reportedly staying in Hong Kong and will phone-in around early at night.

On concerns by military chiefs that Mr. Thaksin's telephone call could rapidly deteriorate Thailand's political crisis Saturday, Mr. Veera said he personally believed Thailand could become more democratic.

The Supreme Court earlier this month sentenced Mr. Thaksin to two years imprisonment for violating the anti-corruption law over his wife Pojaman's purchase of land in Bangkok from the Bank of Thailand's Financial Institutions Development Fund. Mrs. Pojaman was earlier sentenced to three years in jail in another tax evasion case.

Supreme Court president Virat Limvichai expressed concern at the planned phone-in by Mr. Thaksin, saying that the convicted prime minister would face a maximum imprisonment of seven years or a fine of Bt14,000 or both in absentia if Mr. Thaksin made the speech considered as contempt of the Thai judicial system.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition Democrat Party, said that the current political problems in Thailand could ease if Mr. Thaksin accepted his guilt and the court's verdict.

TNA

Tens of Thousands gather to support exiled leader

TENS OF THOUSANDS of supporters of Thailand's exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra have travelled across the country to a stadium ahead of his audio address, raising fears of clashes with rival protesters.

Clad in red shirts signalling their pro-government and pro-Thaksin stance, fans of the ousted ex-PM began arriving at Rajamangala sports stadium in Bangkok's eastern outskirts early in the morning.

The former premier, who fled to Britain in early August following his wife's conviction for tax evasion, is due to telephone the rally from an undisclosed overseas location about 8pm local time (2400 AEDT).

Major General Wimol Pawintara, of Bangkok Metropolitan police, said about 60,000 people had filled the stadium by 5pm, with thousands more still milling about outside.

"So far there has not been any report of any incident,'' he said.

Jatuporn Prompan, an MP from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), said earlier that 100,000 people were expected to show up to hear the former premier speak.

Mr Prompan said Mr Thaksin "will speak for an unlimited time on whatever topic he wants''.

It will be Mr Thaksin's first address to supporters since leaving the kingdom and being sentenced in absentia on October 21 to two years in jail for violating corruption laws.

Thai society is split between those who love or loathe the twice-elected multi-millionaire.

News.com.au