Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Thaksin tweets birthday note of non-violence

Supporters make merit for former PM at events in North, Isaan, as others curse him



On his 61st birthday yesterday, fugitive former prime minis-ter Thaksin Shinawatra post-ed messages on Twitter asking his supporters not to use violence. Some Twitter users, however, questioned his real intention.

Through his Twitter account, Thaksin thanked well-wishers.

"I want to see good things in the country. I'm ready to cooperate with all who want to lead the country to become a peaceful and loving coun-try," he posted. "Those who love me and wish me well, please be patient with injustice or cruelty in this peri-od. Please don't turn to violence. I don't like it and disagree with it."

He also posted that in the past year, his first on Twitter, he had 116,814 followers on the service, although he posted fewer messages lately as he did not want to draw attention to himself.

Between 2pm to 4.30pm yester-day, 36 people posted goodwill mes-sages to Thaksin while 52 peo-ple posted messages to attack or curse him.

Meanwhile, hundreds of his sup-porters gathered at Wat Rong Dharm Samakkhi in his home district of San Kamphaeng in Chiang Mai province to make merit and celebrate.

At 11am, Thaksin phoned and addressed his supporters.

"I wish you happiness as well. May you be free of suffering and sickness soon. I am healthy, don't worry. Thank you for being patient and for your sacrifices, fighting until you were injured, and being ill-treated in many ways," Thaksin said.

"I think I'll be free of suffering soon. May you all be happy. Thank you for your moral support. I owe you. Thanks for your concern and your support in the past four years. Thank you."

Thaksin's sister Yaowapa Wongsawat said she expected him to celebrate his birthday with his fami-ly over dinner but she did not know in which country. Meanwhile, the Shinawatras wished him health and happiness as well as his return to Thailand soon.

"On the reports that Thaksin will come back next year, he might not mean to do so. It must be his wish to return to the country. No matter which country offers to have him stay, he wants to come back to Thailand, as he is beloved here," she said.

Earlier, Yaowapa and her husband, former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, went to a celebration at Wat Phra That Haripunchai in Lamphun, where 500 people joined in. About 200 joined a merit-making ceremony in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Source: The Nation

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