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Thaksin supporters protest ban

More than 1,000 die-hard supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday protested a stunning court ruling that banned his party and barred its entire leadership from politics for five years, saying the military-appointed tribunal lacked legitimacy.

Wearing yellow headbands that read "Coup leaders, get out," the group shouted and cheered every time Thaksin's name was mentioned.

"This is a fight by the people who are rejecting the judiciary's power," said Veera Musigapong, a former deputy leader of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party and one of the 111 leading party members, including Thaksin, banned from politics by Wednesday's ruling.

"As someone who was personally affected, I am not accepting the decision of the tribunal which was set up by the coup leaders and their illegitimate power," Veera said.

Some 150 police officers, bomb squad teams and police dogs were deployed in the area near the Royal Plaza, a large square in the heart of historic Bangkok. The plaza itself, where the demonstrators had initially hoped to rally, was blocked off by security officials.

Army commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said security has been beefed up throughout the city and would remain until it is clear that there will be no violent protests.

Thai Rak Thai was found guilty by the Constitutional Tribunal of financing obscure parties to run against it in last year's elections to get around rules requiring a minimum voter turnout.

Party leader Chaturon Chaisaeng said yesterday that a new Thai Rak Thai would try to register under the same name while its banned executives would attempt to engage in political activities short of running for office.

He said that the group hoped to meet Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Monday to ask him to revoke a ban on all political activities by parties that was imposed following a bloodless coup last September that ousted Thaksin.

Surayud has promised to lift the ban in September and hold general elections in December.

The decision against Thai Rak Thai came hours after the Democrat Party, the country's oldest and a bitter rival of Thaksin's party, was found innocent of election law violations.

Thaksin, who now resides in London, sent a handwritten letter to his party and supporters, urging them to continue their political activities for the benefit of the country.
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