Thailand's anti-government alliance vowed yesterday to take their campaign across the country and push for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's resignation with several more rallies this month.
Up to 20,000 protesters gathered in the capital on Saturday, in the second mass demonstration since a public furore erupted over the US$1.9 billion tax-free sale of telecoms giant Shin Corp by Thaksin's family.
The numbers were well down on the 50,000 who massed a week ago, but organizers claimed it as a success and announced a series of nationwide protests culminating in another mass rally in the capital on Feb. 26.
"I'd like to encourage people around the country to come here and make it the biggest demonstration in the country's history," campaign leader Sondhi Limthongkul told the cheering crowd in a midnight closing address.
"And this time we will not disperse until we claim victory," he said. "From provinces across the country will flow a sea of power to flood the government here in Bangkok."
Thaksin, who celebrated five years in office on Thursday, has repeatedly refused to quit despite the protests and the departure of two ministers, saying his family did nothing wrong by selling Shin Corp to Singapore investors.
Critics have attacked the deal for avoiding a 30 percent capital gains tax, and say it puts sensitive Thai telecommunications assets in the hands of foreigners.
Just hours before the latest rally Thaksin softened his stance on calls for constitutional reforms that could reduce the government's powers, proposing an April referendum on the issue.
However, academics and activists dismissed the gesture as hollow, saying the constitution was not a major issue and that the government would frame the referendum in such a way that would ensure its failure.
"The final answer from Thaksin must be his resignation as he clearly lacks moral authority. It is too late for him to do something else like revise the constitution," said Campaign for Popular Democracy leader Suriyasai Katasila.
Suriyasai, whose group is part of the protest alliance, said it would hold rallies in the northern city of Chiang Mai, the southern province of Songkhla, and the populous northern provinces of Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima.
"We expect a big change in Thai politics to happen on Feb. 26 when more than 100,000 people will join together at the protest in Bangkok," he said.
Saturday's eight-hour rally passed off peacefully with the crowd -- including families and many older people -- in a buoyant mood as they milled in the Royal Plaza.
There was almost a carnival atmosphere as vendors sold drinks, snacks and plastic sheeting to sit on, as well as flowers and incense sticks to place at the statue of a former king.
Many of them promised to return for the Feb. 26 protest.
"Why? Because the country's in crisis," said one woman, a serving army officer who asked not to be named.
"The way this government proceeds with its policies is for itself, it doesn't care for the people. It makes decisions without keeping the country's interests in mind," she said.
Anjalee Pattanain, a nurse from the resort town of Pattaya, was one of many protesters who said they were uncomfortable with the role of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, which has become the most powerful in Thai history.
"The government has control over everything, the people can't do anything," the 55-year-old said.
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