But the argument that Thaksin must therefore resign does not wash with Suwat, the village chief.
"It's not fair that a leader gets two-thirds of the vote and then is brought down by street demonstrations," he said.
In the election in February last year, Thaksin won 61 percent of the vote, a landslide by Thai standards.
He cemented the loyalty of rural Thais with a three-year moratorium on their debts and a government program that offered US$26,000 to every village, from which residents could borrow for small business ventures.
Partly as a result, rural incomes increased 29 percent in 2001, the first year Thaksin was in power, 23 percent the next year and by double digits each year since. Last year, the average rural income reached US$821, according to the Rural Development Information Center of the Interior Ministry.
Baan Suksomboon residents said they would be bitter if Thaksin is removed from power.
"Of course I will be angry," said Muthita Shinpromma, who works at a factory stitching Nike sweatpants for US$3.70 a day. "
Thaksin is helping people at the grassroots," she said.
RSS