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BANGKOK: About 1,000 anti-government protesters rallied Thursday in front of the foreign ministry to demand that authorities strip ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife of their passports.
The protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - a group of royalists, businessmen and activists - marched under a banner showing pictures of Thaksin and his wife Pojaman, emblazoned with the words "Most Wanted."
Many wore yellow shirts in honour of Thailand's king and waved plastic noisemakers as they marched.
"We demand the foreign minister and the foreign ministry immediately revoke every type of passport belonging to Thaksin and Pojaman, who are criminal fugitives," said protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul.
The foreign ministry has already said that it will revoke Thaksin's diplomatic passport, but he and Pojaman would still have their regular passports.
The protesters said they want the foreign ministry to strip the couple of all of their travel documents after they skipped bail last week and fled to Britain to escape corruption charges in Bangkok.
The charges were brought by investigators appointed by the generals who toppled Thaksin's government in 2006. Thaksin says that he cannot receive a fair trial in Thailand and that he fears for his family's safety.
Thaksin's lawyer says the couple will seek political asylum in Britain, where Thaksin owns the Premier League club Manchester City.
"Thaksin is a criminal who is avoiding an arrest warrant issued by the court. Why can he still have all kinds of passports," said Somsak Kosaisuk, another protest leader.
The protesters held a similar rally Tuesday in front of the British embassy to demand that London send the couple home to stand trial.
- AFP/yb
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