By Theerawat Khamthita
Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra says he will be back in Thailand soon - and will announce the exact date on Tuesday.
In a telephone call from Beijing to a crowd of supporters in Chiang Rai yesterday, Mr Thaksin said he was coming home soon.
"On Tuesday, I'll have the answer as to when I'll come back," he told about 1,000 jubilant supporters who gathered at a market in Chiang Rai to celebrate "Thaksin Nostalgic Day" yesterday.
More than 200 banquet tables were set up with banners stretching across the venue hailing the ousted prime minister's homecoming plan.
The event was organised by supporters of Mr Thaksin's, who call themselves the Thaksin Loyalists Club and are led by the owner of a beef noodle eatery.
The group grabbed headlines when they staged a protest against the now-defunct Council for National Security which engineered the coup that toppled Mr Thaksin in 2006. Club members discarded the charter booklets distributed prior to the constitutional referendum last year to highlight their anger against the coup makers.
At yesterday's party the members, some fighting back tears, listened to Mr Thaksin speak in both central and northern dialects for about 10 minutes. The former prime minister, a native of neighbouring Chiang Mai, said House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat was also with him in Beijing.
"Aren't you excited that one of us from Chiang Rai finally made it as House Speaker?" asked Mr Thaksin.
Memorabilia such as CDs chronicling Mr Thaksin's life, caps, shirts and leaflets with updated news on the deposed prime minister were distributed at the party.
A table was arranged for participants of the event who were not already members of the club to sign up for membership.
The gathering was broadcast live through a community radio station and recorded by the People's Television station (PTV) team.
Club members also took turns speaking on stage during the feast.
"During Mr Thaksin's government, the economy prospered. People lived well and ate well," a villager who attended the party said.
"The projects introduced by Mr Thaksin's government were very useful to us, the 30-baht healthcare scheme and the Village Fund.
"But the change [after the coup] made our lives worse," one speaker told the audience.
Another villager said: "We want Mr Thaksin back."
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Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra says he will be back in Thailand soon - and will announce the exact date on Tuesday.
In a telephone call from Beijing to a crowd of supporters in Chiang Rai yesterday, Mr Thaksin said he was coming home soon.
"On Tuesday, I'll have the answer as to when I'll come back," he told about 1,000 jubilant supporters who gathered at a market in Chiang Rai to celebrate "Thaksin Nostalgic Day" yesterday.
More than 200 banquet tables were set up with banners stretching across the venue hailing the ousted prime minister's homecoming plan.
The event was organised by supporters of Mr Thaksin's, who call themselves the Thaksin Loyalists Club and are led by the owner of a beef noodle eatery.
The group grabbed headlines when they staged a protest against the now-defunct Council for National Security which engineered the coup that toppled Mr Thaksin in 2006. Club members discarded the charter booklets distributed prior to the constitutional referendum last year to highlight their anger against the coup makers.
At yesterday's party the members, some fighting back tears, listened to Mr Thaksin speak in both central and northern dialects for about 10 minutes. The former prime minister, a native of neighbouring Chiang Mai, said House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat was also with him in Beijing.
"Aren't you excited that one of us from Chiang Rai finally made it as House Speaker?" asked Mr Thaksin.
Memorabilia such as CDs chronicling Mr Thaksin's life, caps, shirts and leaflets with updated news on the deposed prime minister were distributed at the party.
A table was arranged for participants of the event who were not already members of the club to sign up for membership.
The gathering was broadcast live through a community radio station and recorded by the People's Television station (PTV) team.
Club members also took turns speaking on stage during the feast.
"During Mr Thaksin's government, the economy prospered. People lived well and ate well," a villager who attended the party said.
"The projects introduced by Mr Thaksin's government were very useful to us, the 30-baht healthcare scheme and the Village Fund.
"But the change [after the coup] made our lives worse," one speaker told the audience.
Another villager said: "We want Mr Thaksin back."
Discuss
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Tell a friend
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