Thai PM scraps trip north over security concerns

Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:07am EST


BANGKOK, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday he had cancelled a weekend visit to northern Chiang Mai province, an opposition stronghold, because of security concerns.

Abhisit's decision to cancel the trip will be a blow because it highlights his inability to travel freely around the bitterly divided country, adding to concerns about political instability.

Shortly before Abhisit spoke, the Thai Chamber of Commerce issued a statement saying he should not go to the province to attend a seminar it has organised, citing concerns for his security and that of people attending the meeting.

"I am sure I will be safe if I go, but others including the protesters, security officers and seminar participants may have problems because some protesters want to cause problems," Abhisit told reporters in Bangkok.

Chiang Mai is the home town of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Security concerns grew after an indirect threat against Abhisit's life was made on a community radio station by one of the province's pro-Thaskin protest leaders.

Thaksin's "red shirt" supporters are pushing for early elections. They had planned a big protest in Bangkok from the weekend but cancelled it out of deference to Thailand's revered king, ahead of celebrations to mark the monarch's birthday on Dec. 5. [ID:nSP534354]

Instability has plagued Thailand for the past four years.

After two landslide election victories, Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and was sentenced in his absence to two years in prison for graft in 2008.

Both his supporters and opponents have taken the fight to the streets, sometimes leading to violence among themselves or with the police and military.

Thaksin, a former telecoms tycoon, remains popular among the rural and urban poor, who benefited from his populist policies.

But he is deeply reviled by the elites in Bangkok, who accuse him of corruption, abuse of power and disloyalty to the country's monarchy. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

(Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Ambika Ahuja; Editing by Alan Raybould and Paul Tait) ((ambika.ahuja@thomsonreuters.com; +66 2 648 9739; Reuters Messaging: ambika.ahuja.reuters.com@reuters.net)) (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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