BANGKOK - Exiled former Thai premier Thakin Shinawatra denounced his opponents Saturday in a telephone address to 90,000 loyal supporters packed into a Bangkok sports stadium. Speaking from an undisclosed location, Thaksin thanked the crowd but told them he could not return to the kingdom from exile in Britain without a royal pardon after he was sentenced to two years in prison on corruption charges last month. "I cannot return home because I was sentenced to two years' imprisonment," he said, adding that the case against him would be valid for another decade. Thaksin went on to verbally attack the generals who overthrew him in a September 2006 military coup, to wild cheers from the crowd. "They have abused the legal process to get rid of me. I was overwhelmingly elected prime minister twice yet I was overthrown in a military coup, and survived an attempted assassination," he said. "My family and I have been attacked, our assets have been forfeited and I have been sentenced to jail, but my problems cannot compare to those facing our country," he said. "Nobody can bring me back to Thailand except royal mercy or the power of the people," he added. His address was not carried by any Thai television or radio channels. Thaksin fled to Britain in early August following his wife's conviction for tax evasion. It was his first address to supporters since leaving the kingdom and being sentenced in absentia on October 21 to two years in jail for violating corruption laws. Several other corruption cases are outstanding against him. About 90,000 of his fans, clad in red shirts signalling their pro-government stance, gathered at Rajamangala sports stadium in Bangkok's eastern outskirts, raising fears of clashes with rival protesters. An army colonel told AFP that more than 2,000 troops were on standby in case the police required their assistance, but there were no signs of trouble. Chaturon Chaisang, former leader of Thaksin's now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai party, earlier took to the stadium's stage to denounce the People's Alliance for Democracy, who have been holding anti-government rallies since May. "We will not compromise with PAD on principle, but there is no clash or confrontation with them today," Chaturon told the cheering crowd. Thai society is split between those who love or loathe Thaksin. Fans of the twice-elected multi-millionaire, calling themselves the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), come mostly from the country's majority rural poor and say they are upholding democracy. His detractors, represented by the PAD, have occupied the grounds of the prime minister's offices since August calling for the government to step down. They claim the PPP, which was elected in December last year, is running the country on behalf of Thaksin, whom they accuse of corruption and nepotism. PAD held protests before the 2006 coup. The return to power of Thaksin's allies angered the PAD and the old military and bureaucratic power elite in the palace. Crowds of PAD supporters descended on the British embassy on Thursday to demand Britain extradites Thaksin, who still faces trial on many other corruption charges. Thailand's current prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat -- Thaksin's brother-in-law -- has been under increasing pressure to resign since bloody clashes on October 7 between PAD supporters and police left two people dead and nearly 500 others injured. Somchai, visiting Chiang Mai, told reporters earlier he was concerned about clashes between protesters on Saturday and urged both sides to be peaceful. "I worry a third party could exploit the situation so I ask both sides to be extremely cautious... Our country has already suffered a lot," he said. But PAD organiser Suriyasai Katasila said the group would not confront the pro-government rally. "The PAD will not move from its stronghold at Government House to confront the UDD. The PAD has stepped up security measures to the maximum," Suriyasai wrote on the group's website.by youtube
  It was one of the chief players in the Thailand political crisis from 2005 to 2006. The PAD consists of middle and upper-class Bangkokians and Southerners, supported by the conservative elite, factions of the Thai Army, and state-enterprise labor unions. The People's Alliance for Democracy has been re-established in Thailand on March 28, 2008 at Thammasat University auditorium. Several issues was raised by the PAD, including the Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ties to Thaksin Shinawatra (·Ñ¡ÉÔ³ ªÔ¹ÇѵÃ), ties between some People's Power Party members and the banned-Thai Rak Thai party, and attempts to amend the 2007 Constitution. Among the amendment proposed was removal of Article 237 which would dissolve a political party if one of the executives was involved in vote buying. Yongyuth Tiyapairat, People's Power Party executive who was also the Parliament president after the election, was being tried for vote buying. Yongyuth was later found guilty by the Supreme Court on July 8, 2008. Demonstration by PAD started on May 25, 2008 at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Road to protest the proposal for constitution amendment. The rally attracted ten thousand supporters.As the rally went on, PAD announced their effort to collect signatures to request removal house representatives and senates who supported the amendment on May 30, 2008.The next day Samak expressed on government-run NBT television channel his intention to dissolve the rally by force. In reaction to Samak's speech, PAD issued announcement against the government's move...by youtube. which one i choose??red or yellow?? Noooooooooooooo !!! i am not choose ...... what are we?Thai people fighting each other for??...pls give back the good doer the right doer to the sociaty their good dongs are seen clearly!!!!
 P.S just worry about my country why we fighting for??umm we should fight in the case worthy to fight don't fight in the case unworthy to fight  no matter red or yellow shirt we are thai it is very pity for country...they fight with out caring of thai ppl what going on with the sociaty??the deceiver of the society Y_Y i want my country back i don't care about who become PM but one thing i want can get the country to prosperous and peaceful.....pls..

politics is evil. We have them in the US also saying how Obama is doing so bad and ruining the US so they can get elected next time. Unfortunately power attracts these types of people.

If there is a way of voting with out corruption being involved it would be fair but it seems to be in peoples nature to either be corrupt or have a corrupted mind,so there for a happy medium can't be found.

It seems to me that countries such as Thailand,Philippines etc suffer from poverty and at some times are ruled by what the West calls a dictator.

Western Cultures along with money have come along and now the people in those countries are very mixed or divided probably because of the education level in the elders.

Some countries are or won't change for many years.

As Eagle says politics are evil.

this is not a split or fight between 2 political parties or ideologies. It is not Left and Right fighting. This is a split between the aware educated people...and the unaware uneducated people. No-one can win this fight... but Thailand and its people as a whole will lose.

well said, I hope peace and prosperity returns to your country very soon.

I don't want to hear about these ppl, they are......

i just hope everything be ok soon

That everything be good for u all