December 14, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 15, 1429

BANGKOK, Dec 13: Thailand’s ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra demanded the army stop interfering in politics during a video address to 50,000 rallying supporters ahead of Monday’s crucial vote for a new prime minister.

Thaksin, who is living in exile to dodge corruption charges, told the crowd packed in Bangkok’s National Stadium on Saturday that the military and judiciary were behind moves to force his allies from government.

“At the moment the army is interfering... Those people who interfere in forming the government must stop and withdraw,” he said in the pre-recorded 20-minute video before cancelling a live phone-in scheduled to follow it.

The speech comes 10 days after his allies were forced from power by a court decision that splintered their governing coalition.

He said the army was behind the defection of former ruling party lawmakers who are now backing opposition Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva for prime minister.

The political manoeuvres follow six months of protests by the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy, during which they besieged government offices and blockaded Bangkok’s airports.

“We are still under a military coup... They have used the court to crack down on politicians.

“They should behave with a sportsman’s spirit and not interfere,” he added.

Police estimated 50,000 people, wearing red shirts to declare their support for Thaksin, had crammed into the stadium, with thousands waving heart-shaped clappers in front of a huge stage mounted with television screens.

The roads in front of the

stadium were closed to traffic and about 1,000 police were

deployed, though they said

the event passed without incident.

Giant television screens were also erected in public spaces across the north and northeast of the country, where Thaksin enjoys huge support from poor, rural Thais.

It was Thaksin’s second public address since leaving Thailand in August. He has since been sentenced in absentia to two years in jail on corruption charges and has refused to confirm where he is living since he was forced to leave Britain in November when his visa was revoked.

Thaksin is also facing several other corruption charges.

The former premier was ousted in a 2006 coup following months of protests by the PAD which has accused subsequent governments of acting as his proxy.

After a blockade of Bangkok’s airports that left 350,000 travellers stranded, the PAD finally stood down on December 3 when a court ruling forced premier Somchai Wongsawat from power and dissolved his People Power Party (PPP).

Somchai is Thaksin’s brother-in-law. His allies have since regrouped under the newly formed Puea Thai (For Thais) party.

Thaksin’s address came as lawmakers prepare to vote for a new prime minister on Monday in a special parliamentary session that looks likely to see the Democrat Party emerge as leaders of a new coalition government.

The PPP’s ruling coalition has unravelled since the court decision, with some of the party’s former members defecting to the opposition Democrats along with members of four smaller parties.

Thaksin issued a warning on Saturday to the defectors.

“People know they will be punished,” he said.

Puea Thai has previously blamed the political manoeuvring on army chief General Anupong Paojinda, who has admitted advising lawmakers on how to best resolve the crisis.

The Democrat Party claims to have the support of 260 of the 438 lawmakers for Monday’s vote.

But Puea Thai has refused to admit defeat, saying it can still muster the support to form a government, and said the cancelling of Thaksin’s live address had been done to secure the support of allies.

On Friday, the PAD released its first statement since ending an eight-day seizure of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport, threatening to resume street protests if a new prime minister is chosen from the former ruling party.

The PAD is backed by elements of the military, palace and establishment, and draws support mainly from Bangkok’s elite and middle classes.—AFP