Upping the Pressure

The battle between former PM Thaksin and the current Thai government has been intensifying recently.  Both sides seem to have upped the ante.

Thaksin, for his part, has called for rallies across Thailand against the current government.  The rally in Bangkok, while attracting 30,000 to 50,000 red clad protesters, fell short of the hundreds of thousands hoped for by Thaksin and his allies.  There are also smaller rallies across the country, whose protesters have pledged to come to Bangkok when asked. 

Thaksin spoke to the rallies, and has accused two members of the Privy Council, a group of the King's advisors, of being behind the plot to oust him.  One of those, Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda became the care taker PM after the 2006 coup.  According to Thaksin, a general involved with the coup recently told him of the Privy Council members' involvement.  General Prem and the other member have denied any involvement with the coup.

The Thai government is also upping the pressure on Thaksin.  They are trying to negotiate extradition treaties with Hong Kong and Dubai, two places that Thaksin is reputed to spend most of his time.  The government is also looking to revoke Thaksin's normal Thai passport, his diplomatic one was revoked in the last few months.

Additionally, the Thai government is seeking to impound Thaksin's two billion dollar fortune.  There is a court case in July at the Thai Supreme Court, which if Thaksin loses, would cost him most of his fortune. 

The government definitely seems to have the upper hand.  Still, its unlikely that Thaksin will go down without a fight.