PETITION FOR ROYAL PARDON
Red shirts claim 4m signatures
By The Nation
Published on August 1, 2009
Thaksin phones in to rally to thank supporters; vows to return the favour
The campaign for a royal pardon for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has collected more than 4 million signatures, it was announced during a rally by his supporters late yesterday.
Thaksin also made a phone-in address last night. He thanked his supporters for backing the signature campaign and said he felt highly grateful to them.
"I want to return your favour by working for you, which I can't do now. If I can work to return your favour, I will be able to die peacefully," he said.
Veera Musigapong, an organiser of the red shirts' rally at Sanam Luang, said 4.19 million signatures had been collected from all over the country. His announcement led to loud cheers.
The red shirts also plan to hold a protest at the Interior Ministry on Monday against Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, whose Bhum Jai Thai Party is campaigning against the signature drive.
The rally in Sanam Luang took place despite warnings from the government that a pardon could only be sought by Thaksin himself or his relatives.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau deployed about 1,800 anti-riot police to keep the peace at the rally site, said commissioner Lt-General Worapong Chewpreecha. About 600 policemen were on the ground, while the remainder were held back as potential |reinforcements.
Some 150 traffic policemen were responsible for ensuring a smooth traffic flow around the rally site.
Thaksin fled Thailand last August to escape a two-year jail term for conflict of interest.
His supporters aim to gather the signatures for forwarding to His Majesty the King in search of a royal pardon.
The red-shirted protesters launched the campaign last month following months of sometimes-violent street protests and political conflict between supporters and foes of the ex-premier, who was ousted from office nearly three years ago.
The government has launched a campaign to inform the public that the petition has no legal grounds and is inappropriate.
State-owned television ran a segment with a legal expert yesterday to remind the public it was improper to involve the monarchy in politics.
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