Thailand braced for 'judgement day'

[Savonarola]

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Thailand braced for 'judgement day' 


Thaksin supporters have vowed to stage a 'million man march' in the capital next month [File, EPA]

More than 20,000 troops and police have been placed on high alert across Thailand, ahead of a supreme court decision on the assets of Thaksin Shinawatra, the country's ousted former prime minister.

In its ruling, due on Friday, the court is expected to confiscate at least part of Thaksin's $2.3bn fortune.

The former prime minister's assets were frozen after he was ousted in a 2006 coup, amid claims of corruption and abuse of power.

But Thaksin's supporters, known as the Red Shirts, have said they will stage mass protests if the court rules against him, raising the possibly of violent confrontation.

With tensions high ahead of the ruling, Thai media has labelled the verdict "judgement day".

Judgement due

Over the last four years the country's politics have been dominated by a bitter and sometimes violent rivalry between the allies and foes of the former telecommunications tycoon.

Thailand's Red Shirts
Supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in bloodless coup in 2006

Formally known as the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD)

Formed in 2008 as a counter to the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy, also known as the Yellow Shirts

Members are mainly rural workers from outside Bangkok, especially in the rural north and northeast, but also has support from students and other political activists

Group accuses the military and Thai elite of undermining democracy


The conflict pits the military, the urban elites and the so-called Yellow Shirts, against the Red Shirts who are mainly rural Thaksin supporters who claim disenfranchisement.

The court will rule on whether Thaksin illegally transfered his fortune to family members because he was prohibited from holding company shares while prime minister, and whether his administration implemented policies that enriched his business.

A nine-judge panel at the court's special Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will begin reading their ruling at 1pm local time (06:00 GMT) and are expected to finish after the market closes, ahead of a three-day holiday weekend.

Technically the court decision is final, though defence lawyers have 30 days after the ruling to submit new evidence deemed significant to the case.

The verdict is timed to minimise the blow to Thailand's stock market, which like the economy and tourism industry, has suffered through the instability.

Appeal for calm

But there are concerns that the risk of renewed civil unrest could damage the country economically.

Abhisit Vejjajjiva, the Thai prime minister, called for calm on Wednesday, saying: "If everybody remains calm and accepts the [ruling], Thailand will get through this situation."

Thaksin's supporters say no protests are scheduled for Friday but a peaceful "million man march" will be held March 14 in Bangkok.

The Red Shirts, known formally as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, have accused the government of pushing fears of violence to discredit their movement.

Thaksin, who denies all the charges, fled into exile ahead of a 2008 conviction for conflict of interest that resulted in a two-year jail sentence.

He has said he is willing to negotiatie, but that "if I am persecuted and bullied, I will not tolerate it".

'More than just Thaksin'

Thaksin's supporters want fresh elections, saying that Abhisit took power illegitimately after court rulings unseated two post-coup governments led by Thaksin alnegotiatelies.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist and director of the Bangkok-based Institute of Security and International Studies, warned the expected court ruling was unlikely to end Thailand's crisis.

"[This is] because now the Red Shirts have evolved into their own force to be reckoned with," he was quoted by The Associated Press as saying.

"They are more than just Thaksin now, and Thailand's problem now is more than just Thaksin.

Zanza, DP, could you gank me a television set in the upcoming riots?

[Josquius]

Can I has some?

[Savonarola]

Protesters head for Thai capital 



Tens of thousands of supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed Thai prime minister, are heading to Bangkok, Thailand's capital, preparing for mass rallies aimed at toppling the government.

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship - popularly known as the Red Shirts - staged early protests on Friday and said a "million-man march" was to be held during the weekend.

"Today we had some small groups gathering, this is not yet a rally. We want to build sentiment before Sunday," Jatuporn Prompan, a Red Shirt leader, said.

Organisers insisted the protests will be non-violent, but the government is deploying a 50,000-strong security force. It has enacted a tough security law that allows authorities to impose curfews and limit movements.

Military checkpoints

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay, reporting from the outskirts of Bangkok, said checkpoints had been set up on the main roads leading into the city.

"The military and police have set up these checkpoints to check for any weapons that may be taken into Bangkok by Red Shirt supporters," he said.

"The Red Shirts themselves fear that these checkpoints are in place to prevent them from going to Sunday's protest.

"So far there is no sign of that but military and police are certainly ready for any trouble that may arrive."

Thaksin is still very popular in many parts of Thailand, but no one is really expecting a million people to gather in Bangkok to protest, our correspondent said.

Supporters of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, called the protests two weeks after Thailand's highest court confiscated $1.4bn of his assets, frozen after the coup.

The Red Shirts argue that the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Thai prime minister, came to power illegitimately with the backing of coup leaders and the ruling elite, and they are demanding new elections.

Warnings of unrest

Authorities are anticipating unrest triggered by the planned rally, citing the Red Shirts' last major protest in April last year, which descended into bloody clashes on the streets of Bangkok.

Armed guards stood at many banks and state buildings on Friday after government warnings of potential sabotage, including bombings.

Several schools were closed, and some companies allowed staff to work from home.

The weekend's scheduled start of Thailand's national soccer league season has also been delayed, while dozens of countries issuing some form of travel warning to their citizens.

For their part, the Red Shirts have accused the government of trying to create fear, and said they have no intention of occupying public or private buildings, including the two airports serving Bangkok.

One of them, Suvarnabhumi international airport, which was shut down by anti-Thaksin Yellow Shirt protesters in late 2008, is believed to have put contingency plans in place to deal with any attempts at disruption.

I hope their million man march is as successful and influential as ours was.