Thousands rally to support fugitive former Thai premier (1st Lead)

Bangkok - Tens of thousands of Thais sporting red shirts gathered Saturday at the Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok to show their support for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who planned to address the rally by teleconference. About 40,000 Thaksin followers had gathered at the stadium by Saturday evening to witness a phone-in from their revered leader, from 'a country close by,' according to organizers. 'I love Thaksin,' said Plasert Thongsana, 58, from Lat Krabang district in Bangkok. 'Thaksin's policies really helped the grass roots,' he added of Thaksin's well-known populist policies that won him a huge backing among Thailand's urban and rural poor. Thaksin, who has been living in self-exile since August and faces a two-year jail term in Thailand for abuse of power when he was premier in 2003, addressed a similar audience on November 13 of an estimated 60,000 followers. On that occasion Thaksin said his return to Thailand would depend on the leniency of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej 'or the power of the people.' The fugitive former leader has since made it clear that he wishes to return to Thai politics, which he has in fact never left. On Saturday, Thaksin was expected to use his to try to influence the outcome of the scheduled parliament session on Monday to vote in a new prime minister. The leading candidate for the premiership is Democrat Party chief Abhisit Vejjajiva, who over the past week mustered the support of four smaller parties and a breakaway faction of Thaksin's former People Power Party to secure enough votes to lead a new coalition government. But nothing is certain until the votes are counted Monday. Members of parliament have been offered up to 50 million baht (1.5 million dollars) to switch over to Thaksin's camp, close aides of his confirmed. Thaksin's ex-wife, Pojaman, returned to Thailand in early December to conduct the business side of his political operation. Thaksin, who was prime minister between 2001 to 2006, secured himself a mass following among Thailand's rural poor, especially in the impoverished north-eastern provinces - where half the population lives - by implementing populist policies such as cheap health care and distributing district level development funds. In his speech to followers on Saturday, scheduled to start at 8:00 pm, Thaksin was expected to appeal to those constituents to pressure their elected MPs to vote against Abhisit, a Thaksin aide said. He was also likely to name his political enemies, said Veera Musigapomg, one of the organizers of the event. While the Thai business community has come out in favour of a coalition government under Abhisit, there are fears that another government under a Thaksin 'proxy' will bring the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) back to the streets. The PAD, a staunchly anti-Thaksin movement, seized Bangkok's two airports between November 26 to December 3, in their efforts to bring down the previous government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law. They declared victory when the Constitution Court dissolved the pro- Thaksin People Power Party for committing election fraud in the December 23, 2007 polls, and banned its executives, including Somchai, from holding office. The PAD, which is known to enjoy the support of Thailand's political elite and many members of the middle class, has vowed to return to the streets if another pro-Thaksin government comes to power after Monday. The one-week closure of Bangkok's two airports has lost Thailand's incalculable losses in terms of exports and tourism, and has turned many against the movement. 'I think the PAD's closure of the airports will make it very hard for me to find a job next year,' said Patrichapit Panpaeng, 19, a hotel management student who had joined the red-shirt rally.