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Thai PM accuses former PM Thaksin of being behind recent protests

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha accused the former Primer Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of being behind several recent protests.

A small group of demonstrators have gathered in Bangkok this week to protest the detention of a core member of the once ruling Pheu Thai Party Watana Muangsook, due to his breaching agreement with the military government.

When asked by reporters to name the one behind these protests, Prayut said: "Who's doing this? Who's supporting them? Who's making the plan? Firstly, foreign lobbyists. Who? Thaksin!"

Former foreign minister Noppadon Pattaya, who is also Thaksin's supporter, was quoted by Bangkok Post Thursday that Thaksin had not hired any lobbyist in another country to help organize these protests.

Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who was ousted in the 2006 coup, still remains popular in some parts of Thailand. His sister Yingluck Shinawatra led Pheu Thai Party won the general election in 2011 and then became the prime minister, but was ousted in may 2014. Endit