Chamlong Srimuang, a crusader for Buddhist virtues in Thai politics who helped topple Thailand's last military government, yesterday joined the swelling ranks of those calling for the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"The people have lost faith in Thaksin," said Chamlong, formerly the prime minister's political mentor and close ally. "I'll join the protest on February 26 calling for his resignation."
Chamlong, the founder of the Palang Dharma Party (Power of Dharma) that launched Thaksin's political career, said Thaksin had squandered his credibility with the sale last month of his family-owned Shin Corp -- Thailand's largest telecommunication conglomerate -- to Singapore's Temasek Holding.
Thaksin's family managed the 73.3 billion baht (US$1.9 billion) sale through the stock exchange in such a way as to avoid paying any taxes.
The government also pushed through legislation allowing foreigners to own up to 49 percent in telecommunications companies just days before the massive transaction, sparking new criticisms that Thaksin has used his five years in power to benefit his private business dealings.
Since the sale an anti-Thaksin coalition has gained mass.
What started as weekly Friday evening diatribes led by media maverick Sondhi Limthongkul, another former friend of Thaksin's turned foe, has become an alliance of potentially powerful forces against the prime minister.
Thaksin has thus far spurned the protesters as "stupid" and refused all calls for his resignation on the grounds that his Thai Rak Thai Party won 19 million votes in the last year's general election, giving him an unprecedented mandate in Thailand's long history of fractious politics.
Anti-Thaksin rallies earlier this month drew more than 60,000 people, with protesters including academics, members of the middle class, teachers, students and farmers.
The alliance has scheduled a mass rally in Bangkok for next Sunday to demand the prime minister's resignation.
Chamlong's decision to join the rally is significant. Chamlong led similar mass demonstrations against the appointment of Army General Suchinda Kraprayoon to the premiership in May 1992, ending in a bloody showdown between troops and protesters that left more than 100 people dead or missing.
Suchinda was forced to resign in the wake of the bloodbath.
A feud has broken out between the top leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on whether to maintain close ties with Russia. The AfD leader Alice Weidel this week slammed planned visits to Russia by some party lawmakers, while coleader Tino Chrupalla voiced a defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The unusual split comes at a time when mainstream politicians have accused the anti-immigration AfD of acting as stooges for the Kremlin and even spying for Russia. The row has also erupted in a year in which the AfD is flying high, often polling above the record 20 percent it
Ecuadorans are today to vote on whether to allow the return of foreign military bases and the drafting of a new constitution that could give the country’s president more power. Voters are to decide on the presence of foreign military bases, which have been banned on Ecuadoran soil since 2008. A “yes” vote would likely bring the return of the US military to the Manta air base on the Pacific coast — once a hub for US anti-drug operations. Other questions concern ending public funding for political parties, reducing the number of lawmakers and creating an elected body that would
The latest batch from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s e-mails illustrates the extraordinary scope of his contacts with powerful people, ranging from a top Trump adviser to Britain’s ex-prince Andrew. The US House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on trying to force release of evidence gathered on Epstein by law enforcement over the years — including the identities of the men suspected of participating in his alleged sex trafficking ring. However, a slew of e-mails released this week have already opened new windows to the extent of Epstein’s network. These include multiple references to US President Donald
CHARGES: The former president, who maintains his innocence, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for a failed coup bid, as well as an assassination plot Far-right former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is running out of options to avoid prison, after judges on Friday rejected his appeal against a 27-year sentence for a botched coup bid. Bolsonaro lost the 2022 elections and was convicted in September for his efforts to prevent Brazlian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking power after the polls. Prosecutors said the scheme — which included plans to assassinate Lula and a top Brazilian Supreme Court judge — failed only due to a lack of support from military top brass. A panel of Supreme Court judges weighing Bolsonaro’s appeal all voted to uphold
RSS