BANGKOK, June 24 — Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday appealed to the electorate in the capital to choose Democrat candidates to help the party win more than 250 seats in the upcoming election to eventually “help detoxify the Thaksin poison” from Thailand.
Addressing a crowd of supporters gathered outside CentralWorld shopping mall at the Ratchaprasong intersection, last year’s rally site for the anti-government ‘Red Shirt’ United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) movement, Prime Minister Abhisit defended his government’s handling of last year’s protests and asked voters to decide between the Democrat and Pheu Thai agenda for the country.
The premier also urged voters to cast their ballots for the Democrats to help the party to win more than 250 seats in order to “detoxify the Thaksin poison” and let the country move forward.
Mr Abhisit promised that if the party receives the opportunity to form a government after the election, he will work for all groups of people, no matter what their politics, or what colour of shirt they wear.
There would be no amnesty for anyone who breaks the law, he pledged.
Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives in self-imposed exile, but still plays a key role in the Pheu Thai party and supports his youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in her campaign for the top position in the party’s candidate list in the July 3 general election.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Democrat deputy leader, gave the opening speech to the crowd gathered in an open space in front of CentralWorld shopping complex at 6pm, followed by former prime minister Chuan Leekpai and the party chairman for the committee on party strategies Korbsak Sabhavasu, respectively.
Mr Abhisit was the last person to speak before the rally ended about 10pm. (MCOT online news)
