Thaksin supporters create anti-junta group

THAILAND: Supporters of Thailand’s ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Thursday that they have created a new pressure group aimed at removing the junta that seized power in a coup last year.

Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai party was disbanded by a court last week, but about 60 of its members have created a new group called “Love Thaksin, No Dictatorship,” said Nisit Sinthuprai, one of the party’s former MPs.

The group will help organise daily protests already being staged by other Thaksin allies in the run-up to a major anti-junta demonstration planned for June 24, Nisit said.

“Our mission is clear. We want to bring an end to the military regime that has ruled the nation for eight months, causing further division among the Thai people and the collapse of the economy,” Nisit told AFP.

“We also oppose the constitution being drafted under the supervision of the junta,” he added.

Most of the “Love Thaksin” group’s founding members are former TRT lawmakers from northern and northeastern Thailand, Nisit said.

Meanwhile Thaksin Shinawatra said Thursday he hoped to return to Thailand and live as a “normal citizen” after judges banned him from politics.

Thaksin, who has been globetrotting since the army ousted him in September, said on a visit to Japan that he was hopeful democracy would return soon to Thailand. “So when democracy returns to Thailand, that is (when) Thailand will prosper again, and then I will go back to contribute to the country as a normal citizen,” he told a news conference.

“The government has promised the December election, and now they already allow political gatherings. I think democracy should return back to Thailand soon,” Thaksin said.

“After Thailand returns to democracy, I think that freedom of speech, freedom of thinking will prevail. And then, at that time, I will go back and I will teach, the younger generation especially, the experience that I have.”

Bangkok, Thursday, AP