Thai protesters vow fresh anti-junta rally
Sunday, 17 June 2007
BANGKOK, June 16 (AFP): Supporters of Thailand's ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra were Saturday to stage a major rally against the junta that forced him from power, after he urged the military to organise new elections.
Protest leaders said more than 50,000 people were expected to join the rally in central Bangkok, on a plaza where demonstrators have gathered daily for the past two weeks to demand an end to military rule in the country.
The protest comes one day after Thaksin addressed thousands of supporters via videolink from London, urging the junta to push ahead with elections set for December and calling for reconciliation after months of political turmoil.
"The rally will go on as planned. It will start at around 4:30 pm (0930 GMT)," said protest organiser Jatuporn Prompan, a former spokesman for Thaksin's disbanded Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party.
"The junta should get out. Negotiation is good, but as long as the junta remains in power, it is useless," he said.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Saturday he was ready to hold talks with "any parties" to bring an end to the political upheaval that has rocked the country.
"I am always ready to talk to any parties to solve problems," Surayud said on a weekly television talk show.
Earlier in the week, the junta gave Thaksin the green light to return home for the first time since the bloodless September 2006 coup and fight to regain 1.5 billion dollars in assets frozen by Thailand's powerful anti-graft body.
On Friday, the 57-year-old Thaksin called for new polls and vowed to defend himself against allegations of corruption, in only his second address to the Thai people since his ouster.
Protest leaders said more than 50,000 people were expected to join the rally in central Bangkok, on a plaza where demonstrators have gathered daily for the past two weeks to demand an end to military rule in the country.
The protest comes one day after Thaksin addressed thousands of supporters via videolink from London, urging the junta to push ahead with elections set for December and calling for reconciliation after months of political turmoil.
"The rally will go on as planned. It will start at around 4:30 pm (0930 GMT)," said protest organiser Jatuporn Prompan, a former spokesman for Thaksin's disbanded Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party.
"The junta should get out. Negotiation is good, but as long as the junta remains in power, it is useless," he said.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Saturday he was ready to hold talks with "any parties" to bring an end to the political upheaval that has rocked the country.
"I am always ready to talk to any parties to solve problems," Surayud said on a weekly television talk show.
Earlier in the week, the junta gave Thaksin the green light to return home for the first time since the bloodless September 2006 coup and fight to regain 1.5 billion dollars in assets frozen by Thailand's powerful anti-graft body.
On Friday, the 57-year-old Thaksin called for new polls and vowed to defend himself against allegations of corruption, in only his second address to the Thai people since his ouster.