Thaksin vows to fight on for justice

He was making a phone-in address at 7:30 pm to some 20,000 supporters who gathered at fund raising dinner at Wat Phai Khiew temple in Don Mueang district.

He thanked his supporters for continually fighting for him and said he would never give up until he receives justice and until real democracy returns to the country.

"I would like to thank you all for standing by me. I'll fight along your side. I will not give up as long as justice has not returned and democracy has not returned," Thaksin said.

"I don't wan to look for trouble but I am seeking for justice. Now, the situation has come to its worst.  And I was the first one to become a victim so I'll seek the truth along with you."

He said he had not received fair trial in the Ratchadapisek land case against him.

"The Democrat Party urged me to return to fight in Thailand according to the justice system but I would like to ask whether I have received justice in the trial. They made my opponents as investigators in the cases against me," Thaksin said.

He added that he was persecuted because he had worked for the people "too well".

"I got a doctorate degree but I didn't receive justice because I worked too well for the people. If they spoke to me nicely, I would understand but they persecuted me so I could not accept it. I will not give in and I am not afraid of death," the former prime minister added.

Thaksin also ridiculed the 19 September coup makers as "guards" who had ambition and wanted to become executives.

He said the coup was the worst thing because it was the robbery of the people's power.

"The CNS [Council for National Securyt] members were like guards who saw executives running a firm and had and urge to run the firm themselves," Thaksin said.

"How could we let guards run a firm?"

He said the military also had a dictatorial version of charter enacted and had the judiciary interfere in politics and caused damages to the country.