Big plans for birthday boy

Supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra all over the country today plan religious ceremonies and parties on a grand scale to celebrate his 60th birthday.

They plan to continue with their campaign to collect as many as 1 million signatures to seek a Royal pardon for Thaksin, in addition to offering food to monks across the country and holding black-magic rites to boost his luck and bring him back to Thailand.

Amarin Pachonyuth, chairman of People Who Miss Thaksin, said the club would organise a service for Thaksin at Wat Kaew Fah in Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay District attended by former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, and Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister.

Amarin said those who attended would be moved to tears, but he refused to elaborate.

The red shirts in Buri Ram are expecting over 1,000 people at a religious service for Thaksin in Nang Rong district. Surasak Petsawang, the red-shirt leader, denied that they would hold a black-magic rite for Thaksin, saying there would be only prayer and a Buddhist service.

The Chiang Mai Lovers 51 Club will mobilise more than 10,000 supporters of Thaksin to celebrate with a religious service at Wat Phrathat Haripunchai in Lamphun's Muang district and a party at night at the Grand Warorot Palace Hotel, also in Muang district. To commemorate the Buddhist Era year in which Thaksin was born, 2,492 cakes will be served and a 2,492-foot-long sheet of paper provided for supporters to write birthday wishes on, said Kanyapak Manichak, a local radio host better known as DJ Om.

They hope the paper will make the Guinness Book of Records.

The ex-leader is expected to make a phone-in address to his supporters at 9pm, Kanyapak said.

In Roi Et, a group that calls itself the Roi Et People Who Love Demo-cracy plans to hold a two-day and two-night black-magic rite at a market in Art Samart district aimed at boosting Thaksin's luck.

Chairman Wichianrachanin Sinthupria, said the group would solicit signatures from Thaksin supporters to seek a Royal pardon. He said leaders of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) led by Nattawut Saikua, Suthin Klangsaeng and Arisman Pongruangrong would be on stage.

He said the group would hold a bai si (rice-offering) rite to boost Thaksin's luck and morale because the ex-premier had visited Art Samart district to hear complaints.

Soil from eight places in which Thaksin camped out during that tour in January 2006 will be used in the rite.

The group said they would offer lunch to monks across the country at 11am and Thaksin would phone in at 8pm to his supporters, who would see him through video link.

Democrat Party spokesman Dr Buranat Samuttarak said the DAAD was within its rights to hold a |religious service for Thaksin but should not use the opportunity to solicit signatures for a Royal pardon because the Justice Ministry said that was unlawful as Thaksin had not served a jail term. He added that Thaksin's supporters should not widen divisions in the country.

In a related development, former Army chief General Sonthi Boon-yaratglin, who led a coup against Thaksin in 2006, said he saw the birthday celebration by Thaksin's supporters as a matter of faith in the ex-leader.

"There are people who love and have faith in him. It is a personal matter," he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, will monitor Thaksin's speech today in order to determine whether it contains improper messages directed at the monarchy or government, said Panich Vikitsreth, vice minister for foreign affairs.

If that is the case, the ministry will find which country it is being made from, Panich said.

"If it is found to be the United Arab Emirates, the ministry will instruct the Thai ambassador to remind the UAE of its promise not to let Thaksin use the country as a political base," he said.

"There have been no confirmed reports of Thaksin's whereabouts. We have learned only that he travels widely and it is likely that he will make a recording of the speech."