THAILAND: Thaksin to do weekly radio phone-ins

Deputy prime minister says government will not block the former prime minister's calls to radio program but will monitor contents of calls

The Bangkok Post
Sunday, July 5, 2009

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will launch another political attack in a move aimed at countering the weekly programmes by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Kwanchai Sarakham, who is better known as Kwanchai Praipana and who hosts a community radio show in Udon Thani, said Thaksin had agreed to phone into the Khon Rak Udon (Udon Lover) radio station in the northeastern province every Monday.

But local United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Mr Kwanchai, who recently returned from a meeting with Thaksin in Dubai, did not specify when the programme will start, saying the former premier was trying to clear his schedule on Mondays to make time for his calls.

Thaksin's phone-ins will be made one day after Mr Abhisit's address to the country every Sunday.

The prime minister is confident that listeners will make their own judgements on who they should trust by cross-checking the credibility of the person's remarks with the past.

Asked if he wanted to say anything to Thaksin, Mr Abhisit said he wanted to tell all Thais they should show their gratitude to the country. The country should come before personal benefits, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thaksin had the right to talk to other Thai citizens through the weekly phone-ins. The government could not block his talk shows, but its contents would be scrutinised to see if he was trying to incite rifts in society, he added.

Mr Suthep said the new drive by Thaksin would not undermine the government's popularity among northeastern supporters.

"I'm not afraid that Thaksin's phone-in talk shows would affect the government's stability in the Northeast," he said.

Date Posted: 7/5/2009