Rosana Tositrakul, a leading member of PAD, which earlier urged the Singaporean government to stop the Bt73-billion takeover, said Singaporean firms would soon face the wrath of Thai consumers.

She said PAD would hand out booklets at Bangkok's Sanam Luang, where PAD has been rallying, to help people identify Singaporean products and services.

PAD will also continue to seek a revocation of the government's concessions granted to the now Singaporean-owned Shin Corp if the Singaporean government doesn't act to reverse the deal, she said.

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's prime minister, has not yet received a letter that Senator Kraisak Chonhavan, chairman of the Senate foreign affairs committee, had sent him, telling Lee that protests in Bangkok opposing the deal could affect bilateral ties, according to an Agence France-Presse report.

After a meeting with Bangkok-based Singaporean diplomats, Rosana said the Thai public could not accept the deal because key national assets in the telecom, satellite and aviation services were lost to foreigners.

In a statement given to PAD, the Singapore government said it has nothing to do with the business and operations of Temasek Holdings.

"Temasek Board and Management make their own investment decision," the statement read. It's "a private sector deal".

More than 1,000 opponents picketed the Singaporean Embassy in the morning.

Dej Pumkacha, a senior activist and PAD member, told the crowd the Singaporean government is the owner of Temasek and the wife of Lee Hsien Loong is the chairwoman of the giant investment agency, which manages a global portfolio worth US$63 billion (Bt2.5 trillion).

"They can't deny the fact!" Dej said, as protesters shouted "Get out Singapore!".

Smanrat Kanjanavanit, a writer and film producer who carried a placard saying "Shame" at the rally, called on Thais not to vacation in Singapore or fly Singaporean-owned airlines.

Somchai Kittinanthawan, an executive, said he no longer uses the mobile phone offerings of Advance Info Service, a major Shin business sold to Singapore.

Several demonstrators also handed over AIS Sim cards for destruction.

PAD supporters rallied at the Securities and Exchange Commission office on Wireless Road in the afternoon. They submitted a letter urging the SEC to disclose full details of the Shin-Temasek deal.

The SEC was also told to impose penalties on Shin for violating laws in the tax-free Bt73 billion deal.

Pravej Ongartsittikul, a SEC senior assistant secretary-general, said the securities watchdog will soon respond to PAD's letter.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation