KHON KAEN, March 9 (TNA) - The ‘Red Shirt’ United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) rallied Sunday night against the Abhisit Vejjajiva government in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen with fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra telephoning to talk to his supporters.
The Khon Kaen gathering was organised by the Truth Today television talk show programme and was hosted by veteran politician Veera Musikapong, a core leader of UDD Red Shirt group.
During a 25-minute telephone call from an undisclosed location, Mr. Thaksin told his audience that he worries about the livelihood of the Thai people and warned the public to be careful about their spending during the economic downturn.
The ex-premier also expressed concern about job losses in Thailand, the burden of informal debt, and drug problems.
The Abhisit government’s programme to give cash disbursements of Bt2,000 to low-income citizens would not work, he added.
Mr. Thaksin, Thailand’s only prime minister to have been convicted of corruption and abuse of office, fled to voluntary exile abroad rather than face public court hearings in Bangkok last year.
The gathering was reported to be peaceful and ended about 9pm.
The United Front, known as the UDD or the 'Red Shirts' for wearing red shirts, have vowed to intensify their continuing series of protests across the country until the Democrat-led coalition government resigns. (TNA)
Political News : Last Update : 08:26:02 9 March 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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