Thaksin gets special protection
Play
Laos diverts his plane, ups security amid rumour of assassination bid
Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was given special protection when he arrived in the capital of Laos yesterday, amid rumours of an assassination threat against him, according to people close to the former leader.
Red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana, a coordinator of the red-shirts’ trip to Laos during Thaksin’s visit, said yesterday the ex-premier’s plane was diverted from Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport to a military airport at short notice.
“The Laotian authorities took Thaksin to Government House. They cited safety reasons and the need to provide special treatment for him,” Kwanchai said.
He said the Laotian government kept Thaksin’s schedules in Laos secret and even red-shirt leaders from Thailand were not informed about changes set by Laotian authorities.
“This is understandable. Their culture is different from ours. The rumours of an assassination threat may have worried the Laotian government so they provided special security measures,” Kwanchai said.
According to a source close to Thaksin, the Laotian authorities changed Thaksin’s original schedules for security reasons. Some were cancelled while the times for others were changed. Even people close to Thaksin were informed of the new schedules at short notice, according to the source.
Kwanchai was among many red-shirt leaders and politicians from the ruling Pheu Thai Party waiting at the Wattay airport yesterday to welcome Thaksin. They included Suporn Atthawong, Jaral Dittha-apichai, Sutham Sangprathum, Sermsak Pongpanit, General Panlop Pinmanee and Sitha Tiwari.
They were informed of the sudden change shortly before Thaksin’s plane landed at Vientiane’s military airport.
There were also Thaksin supporters from many provinces, as well as his Laotian admirers. Most refrained from wearing red at the suggestion of the Laotian authorities who prohibit political campaigning.
Last night, Thaksin was scheduled to give a lecture on economic matters at a large riverside hotel in Vientiane located opposite the Thai province of Nong Khai. About 1,000 Laotian businesspeople and executives as well as some 300 Thai businesspeople were expected to attend.
Later in the day, Thaksin was expected to address a gathering of red shirts at the Nong Khai Provincial Stadium through the Skype Internet-based communication network. Many red shirts, mostly from the northeastern provinces, and the movement’s leaders yesterday gathered in Nong Khai, just across the Mekong River from Vientiane, in a function held to offer moral support to Thaksin.
Thaksin is scheduled to offer alms to Buddhist monks and to meet his red-shirt supporters this morning in Vientiane. Thousands of red shirts are expected to gather in the Laotian capital during the Songkran festival to attend a ceremony to offer blessings to Thaksin.
Before noon today, Thaksin is scheduled to meet with another group of red shirts at Vientiane’s morning market. Later in the day, he is scheduled to fly to the southern Laotian city of Pakse.
According to his schedule, Thaksin will remains in Laos until tomorrow before leaving for Cambodia, where he is scheduled to stay on Saturday and Sunday.
