HAPPY Birthday to 60-year-old Thaksin Shinawatra, wherever you are. Perhaps today brings a romp through the dunes around Dubai, or a caper along a Pacific island beach, or a tapas treat somewhere in central America.
At least you are free, even if you can't come back to Thailand . . . .
About 50 supporters of the disgraced former Prime Minister gathered today at Wat Mongklonnimid, in Phuket City.
Eight monks benefitted from the happy-birthday merit-making ceremony, being supplied with lunch.
The leader of the red-shirt group, Pimsuda Sabaijid, said she would like Khun Thaksin to return to Thailand and resume his position as Prime Minister.
Not many people on Phuket would agree.
The island is a stronghold for both the ruling Democrat Part and the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, which is in the throes of forming its own party.
The red-shirts have always been a tiny minority on Phuket.
Instead of agitating during last week's important Asean gathering, as their brethren did at Pattaya in April, the local red-shirts caught a bus off the island to visit the pandas in Chinag Mai.
Governor Wichai Praisa-nob helped to foot the bill for the fuel.
The red-shirt promise to behave is also supposed to cover the more prestigious Asean Plus Six gathering, scheduled for October on Phuket.
Last week, Phuket welcomed foreign ministers or high-level delegates from Thailand and 26 nations. In October, the leaders of 16 nations, including Japan, India and China, are scheduled to visit.
It was this meeting that was halted when the red-shirts invaded the key resort in Pattaya.
The gathering was originally scheduled for Phuket.
But officials left it too late to book an island resort for Songkran, and not enough rooms were available to cater for the important summit.
Now it seems likely to come Phuket's way once again.
One point that has always puzzled Phuketwan: With the island's real population made up of more than 600,000 people, about half from other parts of Thailand, why are there so few red-shirts on Phuket?
The cynical answer: nobody on Phuket offers money for their support.
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At least you are free, even if you can't come back to Thailand . . . .
About 50 supporters of the disgraced former Prime Minister gathered today at Wat Mongklonnimid, in Phuket City.
Eight monks benefitted from the happy-birthday merit-making ceremony, being supplied with lunch.
The leader of the red-shirt group, Pimsuda Sabaijid, said she would like Khun Thaksin to return to Thailand and resume his position as Prime Minister.
Not many people on Phuket would agree.
The island is a stronghold for both the ruling Democrat Part and the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, which is in the throes of forming its own party.
The red-shirts have always been a tiny minority on Phuket.
Instead of agitating during last week's important Asean gathering, as their brethren did at Pattaya in April, the local red-shirts caught a bus off the island to visit the pandas in Chinag Mai.
Governor Wichai Praisa-nob helped to foot the bill for the fuel.
The red-shirt promise to behave is also supposed to cover the more prestigious Asean Plus Six gathering, scheduled for October on Phuket.
Last week, Phuket welcomed foreign ministers or high-level delegates from Thailand and 26 nations. In October, the leaders of 16 nations, including Japan, India and China, are scheduled to visit.
It was this meeting that was halted when the red-shirts invaded the key resort in Pattaya.
The gathering was originally scheduled for Phuket.
But officials left it too late to book an island resort for Songkran, and not enough rooms were available to cater for the important summit.
Now it seems likely to come Phuket's way once again.
One point that has always puzzled Phuketwan: With the island's real population made up of more than 600,000 people, about half from other parts of Thailand, why are there so few red-shirts on Phuket?
The cynical answer: nobody on Phuket offers money for their support.
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