Few red-shirts cross over for Thaksin
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Only 22 of 62 reserved buses used to transport 1,000 or so supporters
Far fewer than expected red-shirt supporters were seen heading to the capital of Laos yesterday to welcome fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Slightly more than 1,000 red shirts took the bus to Vientiane compared to the 10,000 expected by the movement’s leaders. Thaksin was in Laos to attend a religious ceremony, known as “baisi sukwan”, held to give him moral support.
A source said that 62 buses had been reserved to carry the supporters, most from the Northeast, from Nong Khai to the Laotian capital. However, only 22 of the buses were actually used due to the far fewer-than-expected number of passengers.
In Vientiane, Thaksin yesterday participated in the religious ceremony performed by 129 Laotian and Thai monks at Wat That Luang amid tight security.
Several senior Laotian officials were also present at the ceremony and tied holy thread on Thaksin’s wrists. The ceremony was held in the temple’s main hall, which is normally reserved for state functions and government guests.
Promising to return
Thaksin said yesterday that this year’s Songkran was the best because he had the chance “to get the closest to my country”. He also expressed his gratitude to people concerned about his safety.
“I want to return home, but have to wait for politics to return to normal and for the country to get a bit better,” Thaksin said.
“It will not be a very long wait. I will return to be with you,” he told hundreds of his supporters, including several red-shirt leaders, gathered inside the temple’s compound. Many in the crowd cheered, with some shouting “it’s time to come home” and “we love Thaksin”.
Tight security in Cambodia
In Bangkok, red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan said yesterday that security in Cambodia would be even tighter when Thaksin visits the country over the weekend.
The MP said security details consisting of some 4,500 men, including Cambodian police officers and red-shirt guards, would provide security for the former PM during his time in Cambodia.
Earlier, some red-shirt leaders had said that they had heard rumours of an assassination plot against Thaksin.
Lax immigration
In the border province of Sa Kaew yesterday, several groups of red-shirt supporters crossed the border into Cambodia.
An official in the Cambodian border town of Poipet said yesterday that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had ordered immigration officials to provide special treatment to red-shirt supporters crossing over from Thailand.
The official, who requested anonymity, added that all immigration officials had been instructed to not search any red-shirt vehicles.
“The prime minister told the Cambodians to give a good welcome to the red shirts. He said all the Cambodians should treat the red shirts as their close relatives or true friends,” the official said.
