BANGKOK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Thai former prime
minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a phone-in address to his supporters at a rally
in Bangkok Saturday night, saying that "nobody" could bring him back to Thailand
except "royal kindness" or "power of the people."
An estimated 100,000 red T-shirt-clad people from
Bangkok and various provinces filled the Rajamangala National Stadium to attend
the "Truth Today" demonstration, the highlight of which promises to be a message
from Thaksin, who faces a two-year jail term in Thailand on an abuse of power
charge.
Tens of thousands of supporters of
former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gather at the Rajamangala
National Stadium in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Nov. 1, 2008. Thaksin
supporters held mass rally here on Saturday to hear the speech by the
ousted leader. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Addressing
his supporters through a phone call at around 8:50 p.m. local time (1250 GMT),
Thaksin said he would like to come to visit his supporters but he could not
because he was under 2-year jail term, which would force him to remain abroad
for at least 10 years.
"Nobody can bring me back to Thailand, except royal
kindness of the King or the power of the people," Thaksin said. He also claimed
that many countries have offered him "honorary citizenship", "which made me a
bit sad because I could do many things for anybody else in the world, but
nothing now for my country."
Tens of thousands of supporters of
former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gather at the Rajamangala
National Stadium in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Nov. 1,
2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Talking about his financial situation, he said his
sale of the Manchester City Football Club to Arab billionaires, which reportedly
gave him a doubled profit, "gave me enough to support my family."
About 1,000 crowd control police have been deployed
to keep security at the Rajamangala Stadium, Deputy Metropolitan Police
Commissioner Amnuay Nimmano said earlier Saturday.
Supporters of former Thai prime minister
Thaksin Shinawatra gather at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok,
capital of Thailand, Nov. 1, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
He said some 2,000 policemen had been on standby and
ready to provide reinforcements if an untoward incident happens.
On Oct. 21, Thailand's Supreme Court for Political
Office Holders sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail for abusing his powers as
prime minister in 2003 by allowing his wife to bid on a plot of land put up for
public auction.
