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Thai supporters seek pardon for Thaksin
Associated Press - August 17, 2009
Ambika Ahuja, Bangkok – Thousands of supporters of fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra gathered Monday to seek a royal pardon for the deposed prime minister before a rare, closely watched march to Thailand's royal palace.
After months of calm, Monday's march to the ceremonial palace of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej threatened to re-ignite the political turmoil that has gripped the country since before Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup.
The king has made no direct comment about the riots, airport takeovers and other tumult that have occurred since late last year but has stepped in on rare occasions to defuse political crises during his six decades on the throne.
At least 20,000 Thaksin supporters all in red shirts gathered at one end of a large field that borders the palace grounds, and a group of about 2,000 marched through nearby streets to the Grand Palace, according to police and one of the group's leaders Nattawut Sai-kua.
Thaksin supporters say petitions calling for his pardon have been signed by 5 million Thais. Anti-Thaksin groups and the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva have questioned the figure.
Thaksin was accused of corruption and abuse of power during his time in office but he remains popular among the urban and rural poor. Last year, the billionaire politician was convicted in absentia of violating a conflict-of-interest law and sentenced to two years in prison.
Much of his fortune remains frozen in Thai banks, his Thai passport has been canceled, and he has been barred from several countries following diplomatic pressure from Thailand. His allies say he is a fallen hero who needs help.
"Throughout history, Thai people who are in trouble and have no way out have asked the king for his mercy," Nattawut said. "We have the right to do so, especially in this case when we cannot rely on the government or the courts."
Hundreds of boxes of petitions were submitted to representatives from the Office of His Majesty's Private Secretary at the gate of the palace's walled compound, Nattawut said. The king generally lives at a seaside palace and only visits the Bangkok palace for formal functions.
While few expect Monday's march to win Thaksin a pardon, the controversial campaign has threatened to re-ignite tension between the pro-Thaksin and anti-Thaksin sides that have driven the political chaos in Thailand for three years.
The last violence was in April, when pro-Thakisn "red-shirts" forced the cancellation of a regional summit and led violent rioting in Bangkok that was crushed by security forces.
Petitioning the monarchy for justice is part of Thai tradition that dates back hundreds of years to when a bell was hung outside the palace for subjects to ring if they had a grievance or a dispute that needed resolution.
In 2006, the anti-Thaksin protest movement and Abhisit's Democrat Party petitioned the king to remove Thaksin and appoint an interim leader.
But the campaign to seek a pardon for Thaksin has riled royalists, the government and Thaksin opponents – a group known as the "yellow-shirts" who have also used civil unrest as a political tool – who say the move serves as more evidence that Thaksin is disloyal to the monarchy, a long-standing claim by his foes that Thaksin denies.
Abhisit, who was opposition leader during Thaksin's tenure and took power in December after cobbling together a coalition government with ex-Thaksin allies, has repeatedly dismissed the attempt to petition the king.
Abhisit has said a royal pardon can only be sought by the individual concerned or their family members while the individual is serving a sentence – something Thaksin has never done.
In response to the petition drive, the government launched a campaign to "inform the public" that the petition has no legal grounds and is inappropriate, dismissing the drive to gather signatures as a publicity stunt and a move to pressure the monarchy.
The government's response has angered Thaksin's rural supporters.
"The elite in Bangkok think they can silence us," said Chutima Meesakul, a 52-year-old mother of four from northeastern Sisaket province. "That is not going to happen anymore. We want Thaksin back so he can fix the economy and help Thailand move forward."
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