Interesting News Today

Supporters await his return
BangkokPost.com

People gathered outside the arrivals terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport hours before he even left Hong Kong waving posters reading "Welcome Home," "We Love Thaksin" and "You are the Best Prime Minister."

At 8am outside the airport terminal hundreds of people were already chanting pro-Thaksin songs and shouting "We miss Thaksin!"


"I'm glad he's back," said a man selling t-shirts with pictures of the ousted leader emblazoned on them. "It's been so long I just miss him."


"Yes, I miss him," said cabbie Thongaeng Saekhu. But when asked why, his response was a terse, "Oh, nearly all cab drivers love him."


One woman, wearing a www.thaksinclub.com sweat shirt was not ashamed of professing her love for Mr Thaksin.


“I love my Thaksin, I don’t care what anyone says,” she shouted before breaking off in a solo chant, “I love you, Thaksin!”
Close by a group of female caddies from a nearby golf course took time off work to do a little dance in honour of Mr Thaksin.


There were no signs of those disapproving of Mr Thaksin’s return anywhere. If they were there, their voice would’ve been drowned out by the throngs of supporters chanting songs written especially for Mr Thaksin anyway.


Others may realize that it is probably best and safest to keep quiet.


People from all walks of life were spotted outside the VIP terminal, monks waving flags that read "We love Thaksin", motorcycle taxi drivers arriving en masse as if they were attending a provincial fair and vendors lying patiently on the lawn awaiting the arrival of their loved one. One group of Thaksin supporters even set up a tent.


There were an estimated 600 police at the airport to provide security for Thaksin and keep the peace. No members of the press or the public were allowed access to the VIP terminal where Mr Thaksin was expected to come out.

Thaksin kisses Thai soil
BangkokPost.com
Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra ended 17 months of exile abroad by falling to his knees and kissing Thai ground at Suvarnabhumi airport. Thousands greeted him with banners and signs but Mr Thaksin said he wanted to be an "ordinary citizen."

His wife Khunying Potjaman, youngest daughter Paethongtan and Mr Thaksin's sister Yingluck went to receive him. Their son Panthongtae came back with Mr Thaksin from Hong Kong.


Mr Thaksin emerged from the airport VIP exit at 10:13. He fell to his knees and kissed Thai ground.


A huge roar went up from the waiting crowd. The ex-premier looked sombre as he gave a traditional wai of greeting.


Dressed in a dark suit, Mr Thaksin spent just 10 seconds greeting the crowd before boarding a car in a convoy of vehicles with a police escort, which whisked him out of the airport and towards Bangkok.


Mr Thaksin's first date in the country was to be before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Transport Minister Santi Prompat were at the airport to welcome the ousted premier.


Mr Thaksin will go straight to the Supreme Court to acknowledge charges over the 772-million-baht Ratchadaphisek land deal. He is expected to spend about an hour there, and ask for bail.


After that, he will go to Peninsula Bangkok hotel, where he will spend the night. If everything goes according to plan, he will hold a press conference there at around 1pm.


His residence in Bangkok is currently under repair.