Pro-government, Thaksin's supporters stage rally in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Nov. 1 Kyodo - More than 60,000 red-shirted supporters of the government and ousted Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra staged a peaceful rally at Rajamangala national
stadium on Saturday to express their support for the government.
Thaksin, who fled abroad last month, addressed the rally by phone.
Activists wearing red shirts attended the talk show ''Truth Today,'' organized
by Thaksin supporters named the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship.

The United Front leaders said pro-government supporters will not allow the
military to stage a coup again, saying that coups mean a setback for democracy.
The United Front also said anti-government protesters known as the People's
Alliance for Democracy have destroyed the country's stability, reputation and
democracy by occupying Government House and supporting the coup.
Thaksin, who has flown from Britain to Hong Kong, told the supporters by phone
that he accepted his fate after he was sentenced to two years in jail last
month, but termed the judicial system unjust.
Thaksin said he and his family are suffering from the guilty verdict but that
it could not compare with the political crisis the country is facing.
He said he wants to return to Thailand one day. ''No one can bring me back to
the country, except the mercy of monarchy and power of the people,'' Thaksin
said.
Thaksin called for harmony and reconciliation among the Thai people to prepare
for challenges from globalization, especially the current global financial
crisis.
On Oct. 21, the Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to two years in prison without
suspension for violating conflict of interest rules in connection with his
wife, Potjaman, purchasing land from a state agency.
More than 1,500 police officers were deployed at the stadium to prevent
possible violence, while military spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said
earlier the military was on alert to assist police, if the situation went out
of control.
Meanwhile, anti-government protesters, still barricaded in Government House
amid tight security after People's Alliance for Democracy security guards were
attacked by a bomb on Thursday.
Since May 25, the People's Alliance for Democracy has staged marathon rallies
against two successive coalition governments led by the PPP, accusing their
leaders of being political proxies of former Prime Minister Thaksin, who fled
to Britain in August just as he was to appear in court to face corruption
charges.
Thaksin was toppled by the military coup in September 2006. He returned to
Thailand in early 2008 to fight the charges.
==Kyodo