Chamlong Srimuang, a crusader for Buddhist virtues in Thai politics who helped topple Thailand's last military government, yesterday joined the swelling ranks of those calling for the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"The people have lost faith in Thaksin," said Chamlong, formerly the prime minister's political mentor and close ally. "I'll join the protest on February 26 calling for his resignation."
Chamlong, the founder of the Palang Dharma Party (Power of Dharma) that launched Thaksin's political career, said Thaksin had squandered his credibility with the sale last month of his family-owned Shin Corp -- Thailand's largest telecommunication conglomerate -- to Singapore's Temasek Holding.
Thaksin's family managed the 73.3 billion baht (US$1.9 billion) sale through the stock exchange in such a way as to avoid paying any taxes.
The government also pushed through legislation allowing foreigners to own up to 49 percent in telecommunications companies just days before the massive transaction, sparking new criticisms that Thaksin has used his five years in power to benefit his private business dealings.
Since the sale an anti-Thaksin coalition has gained mass.
What started as weekly Friday evening diatribes led by media maverick Sondhi Limthongkul, another former friend of Thaksin's turned foe, has become an alliance of potentially powerful forces against the prime minister.
Thaksin has thus far spurned the protesters as "stupid" and refused all calls for his resignation on the grounds that his Thai Rak Thai Party won 19 million votes in the last year's general election, giving him an unprecedented mandate in Thailand's long history of fractious politics.
Anti-Thaksin rallies earlier this month drew more than 60,000 people, with protesters including academics, members of the middle class, teachers, students and farmers.
The alliance has scheduled a mass rally in Bangkok for next Sunday to demand the prime minister's resignation.
Chamlong's decision to join the rally is significant. Chamlong led similar mass demonstrations against the appointment of Army General Suchinda Kraprayoon to the premiership in May 1992, ending in a bloody showdown between troops and protesters that left more than 100 people dead or missing.
Suchinda was forced to resign in the wake of the bloodbath.
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