Local Thai reaction to Thaksin verdict
Updated
Security has been tightened in Thailand after two grenades exploded outside branches of the country's biggest bank following last Friday's Supreme Court verdict against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Unidentified attackers lobbed four grenades at branches of Bangkok Bank, after the Supreme Court seized 1.4 billion dollars of Mr Thaksin's assets. The assets were frozen by the state after the 2006 military coup which ousted the politician-cum-business tycoon. Polls in Thailand show there are fears that political tensions will rise in the weeks ahead. Local Thais give us their verdict on the Supreme Court ruling against Thakin Shinawtra.
Presenter: Ron Corben
Speaker: Chakra Silapanongchuk, Thai taxi driver; Mr Sompon, Thai motorbike taxi driver; Chai Mongkul, Thai restaurant manager
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RON CORBEN: Mr Thaksin remains in exile since he fled Thailand in 2008 to avoid an earlier corruption verdict. In weekend comments he accused the court of robbing his family.
Protests by his so called red shirt supporters are now in the planning. Outside the court Mrs Apun, a 60 year old housewife, still believed Mr. Thaksin was a good man despite the verdict. Mrs Apun said she had wanted to see justice because of Thakin's assistance to the poor when he was Prime Minister.
MRS APUN: Speaks in Thai
On Sunday a poll reported that over 40 per cent of Bangkok residents said they now feared intensified political tensions. Only 11 per cent expected tensions to ease. On Saturday night a bomb outside a bank branch in the financial district gave warning of possible threats in the future. So I decided to carry out my own survey.
Chakra Silapanongchuk, a taxi driver, said the court ruling showed how Mr Thaksin had been corrupt and how he had lied to the people.
CHAKRA SILAPANONGCHUK: Speaks in Thai
But Mr Chakra also said Thaksin was very smart about his methods of corruption and the way he had used the economy.
I travelled down to the working class suburb of Klong Toey. The poor and working class have long been supporters of Mr Thaksin due to his populist economic policies.
Motorbike taxi driver, Mr. Sompon, said Thais still supported the former leader.
MR SOMPON: Speaks in Thai
Mr Sompon believes Mr. Thaksin now faced many problems but people still loved him and there remained many red shirt supporters. He said Mr. Thaksin's Peua Thai Party would win an election over the Democrat Party leader and Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva.
But Mr Don, whose family had eaten at a nearby Thai noodle restaurant, said he accepted the court's verdict.
MR DON: Speaks in Thai
Mr Don said despite fears he did not expect trouble from Mr Thaksin's Red Shirt supporters.
Others spoke how they felt the court had been unfair to Mr Thaksin, but Mr Chai Mongkul, who managed the restaurant, said Thaksin had been corrupt.
He was no good, Mr Chai said, Thaksin was very corrupt and Thaksin had put his family ahead the nation. He then invited me to enjoy a dish of noodles.
While Thailand remains deeply politically divided Friday's long awaited verdict marked another milestone in the saga that has held the Thai nation in its grip for the past five years - the wealth and influence of Thaksin Shinawatra.
