Thaksin – Down But Not Out

THAILAND: In football crazy Thailand, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra’s purchase of Manchester City Football Club is nothing short of political genius.

Whilst Thailand’s Military Junta ponder what to do next as the country rapidly falls into economic and political chaos, the famed exiled leader Thaksin Shinawatra is having a ball – literally. Thaksin is pouring on the charm in his adopted country England and known affectionately by Manchester City fans as “Frank Sinatra”.

To add to his growing popularity, the former Thai Prime Minister hosted a concert attended by more than 8,000 people in Manchester’s main square on Saturday – his first major public appearance since he was ousted in a military coup last year.
Surrounded by players from the soccer team he recently bought, Manchester City, Thaksin addressed the cheering crowd outside Manchester Town Hall.

Before the event, Thaksin said he had no plans to attempt a political comeback in Thailand. However, he said the event would demonstrate the strong levels of support he has back home and in England, where he lives in self-imposed exile.

‘The people in Thailand, the majority of them, are still supporting me,’ Thaksin said after watching his first Manchester City game – a 1-0 defeat of Spanish team Valencia in a preseason friendly.

‘If there were to be free and fair elections, my party would win again because this is the first time in Thai history that they have overthrown a very popular government,’ he said.

Thaksin thanked the club and Manchester for accepting him.

‘I feel very honoured and touched by the type of reception I have received from you all today,’ he said.
Thaksin endeared himself further to the crowd by closing the concert – which featured popular Thai singer Mai Charoenpura – singing the club’s anthem Blue Moon.

Mr Noi Ramasut, a friend of Thaksin’s for 40 years, predicted the images of the event broadcast in Thailand would reinvigorate supporters of his Thai Rak Thai Party, which was disbanded by a court ruling in May in a bid to eradicate the former premier’s political influence.

‘He doesn’t want to create conflict now. He will wait for it all to calm down,’ said Mr Ramasut, who moved to Britain in 1973 from Bangkok. ‘This event will make a lot of people feel alive and feel he is present and his future in Thai politics is alive and well.’