Thursday, 3 April 2008

The Ousted Thai PM visits northern Thailand

Deposed Thai PM Thaksin pictured here returning home in March. He says he's playing golf this weekend with Cambodia PM Hun Sen because he is unemployed. [AFP]

Radio AAustralia

The ousted Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is visiting political supporters in northern Thailand in his first trip outside the capital, Bangkok, since he returned to Thailand last month.

Mr Thaksin has made one international trip since returning from self-imposed exile in Britain in late February, but his tour of northern Chiang Rai province is a chance to thank loyalists for their continued support.

The former leader comes from the nearby province of Chiang Mai, and he and his allies have enjoyed consistent support from voters across northern Thailand despite the September 2006 coup and allegations of corruption against him.

Mr Thaksin was due to attend the birthday celebrations for one his closest allies, parliamentary speaker Yongyut Tiyapairat, who has been suspended from his duties pending resolution of a vote fraud case.

Mr Thaksin says he plans to travel to Cambodia on Saturday to play golf with Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen invited me as an acquaintance, because he was afraid that I might be lonely after losing my job," he told reporters.

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