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Thaksin appeals for support amid deepening crisis

Thai protesters light candles and chant slogans during a protest against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Tuesday. PHOTO: AP

Embattled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appealed to supporters yesterday to help him end a deepening political crisis, as military officers dismissed speculation of a possible coup.

"Rumors of a military coup are not true," Supreme Commander General Rueangrot Mahasaranon, head of the country's armed forces, told reporters. "The military will not interfere in the political conflict. The political problem should be resolved by politicians."

Hoping to stave off a mass anti-government rally planned for Sunday, Thaksin called on supporters to flood his office with mail over the next few days to show they still wanted him in power.

"I am appealing to all Thai people who want peace and democracy to send postcards and letters," Thaksin told reporters, adding that he would post all the messages outside his government compound "to make the opposition realize they should cooperate with the government to tackle the crisis."

In an effort to head off mounting calls for his resignation, Thaksin dissolved parliament on Friday and called for a snap election. But the election has become another crisis for Thaksin, with the opposition saying it will boycott the vote, scheduled for April 2.

Anti-Thaksin activists issued an ultimatum on Tuesday demanding that Thaksin step down or face what they say will be the biggest anti-government rally yet on Sunday. Protesters, who have staged weekend rallies drawing tens of thousands of people, want Thaksin to resign for alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Thaksin met on Tuesday with military leaders over lunch at his office, prompting speculation that army chiefs at the meeting had suggested the prime minister resign.

"We had lunch, and I have not heard of the army chief saying that sort of thing," Rueangrot said.

Thailand has a long history of military coups. The last was in February 1991, when General Sunthon Kongsomphong overthrew the government of prime minister Chatchai Choonhavan.

The military has since distanced itself from domestic politics, but the political stalemate and growing street demonstrations have led to speculation that it once again might intervene.

The prime minister has vowed to hold his own pro-government rally on Friday.

Thaksin won a second term as prime minister a year ago with a landslide election victory by his Thai Rak Thai party.

In addition to allegations of corruption, he has also come under fire for mishandling a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand, stifling the media and allegedly allowing cronies to reap gains from state policies.

The anti-Thaksin campaign expanded greatly last month after the prime minister's family sold its controlling stake in telecom giant Shin Corp to a Singapore state-owned investment company, netting a tax-free 73.3 billion baht (US$1.9 billion).

Critics of the sale complained that it dodged taxes and that it sent a key national asset into the hands of a foreign government.

Thaksin's ruling Thai Rak Thai party is widely expected to win any vote because of its massive financial resources, tight control over government and solid support in the countryside.

But, opposition parties say they will boycott the elections, because Thaksin refused to consider their proposals for political reform. The proposals reportedly called for the prime minister to step down from office until the elections are held.

The largest opposition party, the Democrat Party, has shunned Thaksin's offers for dialogue.

"I don't know what we would talk about," Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters. "I don't think it's necessary."

"There is no way out of the crisis unless the prime minister accepts that the key part of the problem is his own legitimacy," Abhisit said.
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