ID :
27797
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 21:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27797
The shortlink copeid
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)
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)
