Thaksin loyalists lay into the demonised Democrats

Former PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair lapsed into verse to deliver his scathing attack on the anti-Thaksin establishment, saying people knew who was behind the coup: the People's Alliance for Democracy and the military.

Jakrapob, who has been charged with lese majeste, attacked the elite and the middle class for keeping the poor politically and economically powerless and said the anti-Thaksin and anti-poor network "is beyond description".

He thanked the PAD for having occupied Government House and the airports "because it reinforces [understanding of] who's behind them".

Cheers were heard when "Truth Today" co-host Chatuporn Promphan emerged on stage to sing a folk song glorifying himself, and the crowd did not seem to see any irony in it but rather to enjoy it.

Chatuporn said the Democrats' dream of forming a government would never materialise and the voters would punish defectors like Newin.

"People voted for the People Power Party as representing the Thai Rak Thai Party ... They voted for people [under Newin] because they believed they would never abandon Thaksin Shinawatra. [Newin] used to criticise others for being ungrateful in abandoning Thaksin, and look what he did today. He doesn't care about the feelings of the people. You have lost the trust of the people."

As dusk fell, Chatuporn said aspiring PM Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva should serve his two-year compulsory military service before becoming prime minister and drew loud laughter and clapping of plastic "feet".