Rural support for Thaksin

Bangpa-in, Thailand/Jakarta: Two years after being ousted in a coup and having two of his political allies fired as prime minister by the courts, former leader Thaksin Shinawatra remains the champion of many Thais outside Bangkok.

"Speaking truly from my heart, I want him to come back to lead the country again," food shop owner Kasem Puapan said yesterday in Bangpa-In, a small industrial town 60km north of Bangkok. "If there is a new election, I will still vote for his party."

Like many Thais in the countryside or small towns beyond the bright lights of the capital, she believes the economy has stagnated since Thaksin, now living in exile, was removed from office in a 2006 coup.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers will now be held in Jakarta later this month following recent political turmoil in Thailand, an Indonesian official said yesterday. Thailand said on Tuesday it would postpone the Asean summit schedule to be held this month.