Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra meets supporters during an election campaign stop in Bangkok yesterday.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday derided Chamlong Srimuang, saying he should go back to looking after his adopted dogs rather than wasting his time trying to "save the country".

In his attack, Thaksin said Chamlong, a key figure in the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), was unable to take care of 2,000 dogs, let alone manage the country.

Thaksin attacked Chamlong and other PAD leaders as well as former opposition parties while speaking at a Thai Rak Thai Party election campaign in front of the Baiyoke Tower 2 in Bangkok's Pratunam area yesterday afternoon.

"Chamlong cannot look after 2,000 dogs on his own and has to beg food for them from other people. So how could he save the country? He'd better go back to caring for his dogs," Thaksin said.

Chamlong adopts stray dogs, mostly from Bangkok, and cares for them at his Dharma Army Foundation in Kanchanaburi.

Thaksin told the election rally that he adhered to democracy and had 377 MPs in the House. Only a small group of people, who did not adhere to democracy, had asked him to resign, he said.

Thaksin said he wanted the conflict to end as soon as possible and did not want to see any violence, which was why he dissolved the House so that the people could make a judgement.

"But this group of people will not accept the decision of the people. They think they are smarter than everyone else so they continue to rally. They even said their rally is more important than the annual Thai Red Cross fair," Thaksin said.

"But in doing so they have caused a lot of damage to the country."

Thaksin urged his supporters to teach a lesson to the protesters by turning out to vote in high numbers.

"Let the people show them that democracy belongs to all, not only to their group," Thaksin said.

"And if you want to use my services again, please vote for No 2 [his Thai Rak Thai candidacy number]," Thaksin said.

He insisted that he would not take the post of prime minister if Thai Rak Thai received less than half of the votes cast on election day.

He said if he took a break from politics as demanded by his opponents, the country would stand to lose.

"If I take a break, the 300-km electric-train project will never come to fruition because no one will invest in it. How could Chamlong or Sondhi [Limthongkul, another PAD leader] find the money for the project? What can Abhisit [Vejjajiva, Democrat leader] do?" Thaksin said.

Thaksin said the protesters in front of Government House had caused enormous traffic congestion throughout Bangkok.

"They even told those who were caught up in traffic jams not to complain. They said protesters suffered more. But I would like to say: Who the hell asked them to rally? Everybody wants them to go in peace," Thaksin said.

He claimed that if he failed to continue to lead the country, Thailand might have to enter a rescue programme with the International Monetary Fund again.

"If discontinuity happens or if there is a break of just two or three months, foreign reserves will flow out, and Thailand will have to enter the IMF programme again," Thaksin said.

Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation