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[Sexpat]

"Heavy rain and a high security alert didn't hold back the 20,000-strong red shirt rally at the Royal Plaza on Saturday. Icon Thaksin Shinawatra told them Thailand is in danger of being a failed state. Three years after he was ousted in the bloodless Sept 19, 2006, coup, Thaksin told the crowd via a live video link that the country was on a downward spiral but he could fix it.

"Our country has deteriorated and risks being a failed state," he said. "Our country has slid backwards. There is no justice in society. "The longer this government stays, the bigger the disaster is for the country. Give me just six months as prime minister, and I will bring this country back to normal," he told his supporters."I plead for national reconciliation. I have already forgiven everybody, let's start anew and decide in new elections."

The widespread downpour early in the day disrupted the rally schedule and the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protest did not gather any steam until early evening.Many UDD supporters wearing ponchos or carrying umbrellas made their way in ankle-deep water past the rally stage.

The crowd slowly came together amid heavy security that included 6,000 police and army officers. The government had invoked the internal security law in Dusit district where the rally was held.Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had vowed that emergency rule may be imposed if the situation gets out of hand. Emergency rule would give the military a dominant role over the police in straightening out civil disorder."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2415...eter-20000-reds