Join red-shirt protest, Thaksin tells people

"I call on you to rise up throughout the country to join the red-shirts and bring back democracy for our children," Thaksin said.

He also called on politicians who had been part of his disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party to "lead your countrymen in the fight".

Wearing a red T-shirt, Thaksin appeared on a live video broadcast to the protest by his red-clad supporters outside Government House. It was the second night of protest with a Thaksin's speech. On Friday he accused Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda and post-coup premier Surayud Chulanont of masterminding the 2006 coup that ousted him from power.

Thaksin last night directed his attacks at the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, portraying it as pro-aristocracy and inefficient in tackling the country's economic problems.

"It's time to return democracy to the people, or the confusion will never end," he told his supporters through a video link-up.

Thaksin did not say from where he was speaking. He began his one-hour speech at about 8.30pm with greetings in the local dialects of the North and Northeast, where most of his supporters hail from.

He said that a return to democracy was necessary to solve the economic problems as the current political situation stripped Thailand of credibility in the international forum.

The former premier criticised the government for spending money on populist policies, instead of sinking it in projects that would create jobs and income for the public. He also called for cuts in the military budget.

Thaksin said that the government should "borrow from its own money", meaning make use of the country's reserves of over US$100 billion (Bt3.5 trillion), instead of borrowing from abroad. He cautioned that the government's plan of extending the legal borrowing ceiling of 60 per cent of the country's GDP would "lead Thai people to hell".

The fugitive ex-leader said the country should focus on its strength as a leading food-manufacturer and suggested the government woo investment from rich states in the Middle East. "You should spend more time thinking about the economy and try to solve the problems proactively. Don't bother about hunting for me," he said.

Thaksin pointed to the need for investment in alternative-energy plants to prepare for new increases in oil prices, which he expected some time in 2011. He said the government should invest more in public-transport projects, such as rail links between Bangkok and major provincial centres, to make it more convenient to travel and to "bring happiness to the people".

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected Thaksin's call on Friday for immediate dissolution of the House of Representatives. He said that his government's priority was to tackle the economic problems facing the country.

"I'm not sure what he really wants. Sometimes he says he wants constitutional amendments first, and now he proposes House dissolution, which is not something he has ever mentioned before," Abhisit said.

The premier said Thaksin's speech was "the old, old story".

Former deputy Army chief General Wattana Chaimuanwong yesterday described Thaksin as a highly ambitious and power-hungry man.

General Somjet Bunthanom, former National Security Council secretary-general, countered Thaksin's allegation that he was the victim of double standards by saying that when in power Thaksin himself had practised double standards.

Bhum Jai Thai Party Khon Kaen MP Panya Sripanya said party boss Newin Chidchob and his fellow leaders felt Thaksin was over-reacting and should not have involved the Privy Council. "We are unlikely to team up with Pheu Thai,'' he said.