<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>March 29, 2009
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Rise up, fight : Thaksin <!--10 min-->
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Exiled Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seen on a screen addressing via a video link from an unknown location his supporters who demonstrate outside Government House in Bangkok, Friday, March 27, 2009. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
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BANGKOK - FUGITIVE former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday urged supporters to rise up against the government as protesters besieged the offices of the current prime minister for a third day.
Thaksin also criticised Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva's economic policies, making an apparent attempt to tap into concerns about rising unemployment in an economy sliding towards recession as the global crisis bites.
The fiery rallying call, made via videolink to around 20,000 supporters outside Government House in Bangkok, came a day after Thaksin made a speech blaming the revered king's main advisers for the 2006 coup that toppled him.
'Please rise up across the country and be ready to wear the red shirts and take our democracy back,' Thaksin said, referring to the signature clothing worn by his supporters. 'If you want democracy then you have to come and fight.' Thaksin said that the growing number of jobless in Thailand, which the government says could hit one million this year, would lead to 'crime, drugs and social unrest.'
He also criticised Mr Abhisit for his plan to approach international financial institutions for US$2 billion (S$3 billion) in loans and for allocating too much of Thailand's budget towards the powerful army.
Thaksin's own populist policies were credited with helping his supporters among Thailand's rural and urban poor, who are set to be worst hit by the country's slumping economy, but critics accused him of corruption.
Mr Abhisit earlier insisted he would remain in power and rejected Thaksin's call - which he repeated on Saturday - for the dissolution of parliament and the calling of fresh elections.
The premier would not be drawn on Thaksin's assertion that the king's advisers - ex-premiers General Prem Tinsulanonda and General Surayud Chulanont - were responsible for the coup against him.
Thaksin, currently living in exile to avoid a two-year jail sentence for corruption, is awaiting a further court hearing on US$2.2 billion of his frozen assets. Thaksin loyalists have been protesting against the government since Mr Abhisit came to power in December following a controversial court decision to dissolve the previous administration. -- AFP
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</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Rise up, fight : Thaksin <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Exiled Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seen on a screen addressing via a video link from an unknown location his supporters who demonstrate outside Government House in Bangkok, Friday, March 27, 2009. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
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BANGKOK - FUGITIVE former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday urged supporters to rise up against the government as protesters besieged the offices of the current prime minister for a third day.
Thaksin also criticised Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva's economic policies, making an apparent attempt to tap into concerns about rising unemployment in an economy sliding towards recession as the global crisis bites.
The fiery rallying call, made via videolink to around 20,000 supporters outside Government House in Bangkok, came a day after Thaksin made a speech blaming the revered king's main advisers for the 2006 coup that toppled him.
'Please rise up across the country and be ready to wear the red shirts and take our democracy back,' Thaksin said, referring to the signature clothing worn by his supporters. 'If you want democracy then you have to come and fight.' Thaksin said that the growing number of jobless in Thailand, which the government says could hit one million this year, would lead to 'crime, drugs and social unrest.'
He also criticised Mr Abhisit for his plan to approach international financial institutions for US$2 billion (S$3 billion) in loans and for allocating too much of Thailand's budget towards the powerful army.
Thaksin's own populist policies were credited with helping his supporters among Thailand's rural and urban poor, who are set to be worst hit by the country's slumping economy, but critics accused him of corruption.
Mr Abhisit earlier insisted he would remain in power and rejected Thaksin's call - which he repeated on Saturday - for the dissolution of parliament and the calling of fresh elections.
The premier would not be drawn on Thaksin's assertion that the king's advisers - ex-premiers General Prem Tinsulanonda and General Surayud Chulanont - were responsible for the coup against him.
Thaksin, currently living in exile to avoid a two-year jail sentence for corruption, is awaiting a further court hearing on US$2.2 billion of his frozen assets. Thaksin loyalists have been protesting against the government since Mr Abhisit came to power in December following a controversial court decision to dissolve the previous administration. -- AFP
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