April 3, 2008
Bangkok - Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra headed to Chiang Rai on Thursday to visit some of his most loyal supporters, on his first trip outside Bangkok since the end of his exile.
He returned to Bangkok in late February, and has since made a jaunt overseas.
His trip to Chiang Rai marked his first journey to Thailand's provinces since his return.
Thaksin’s voters across northern Thailand have consistently supported him and his allies despite the coup and widespread allegations of corruption against him.
He plans to attend the birthday celebrations for Yongyut Tiyapairat, who has been suspended from his duties pending resolution of a vote fraud case, according to AFP.
After meeting with key supporters and performing Buddhist merit-making ceremonies in Chiang Rai, Thaksin will travel to Cambodia on Saturday to play golf with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"Prime Minister Hun Sen invited me as an acquaintance, because he was afraid that I might be lonely after losing my job," Thaksin joked with reporters before boarding his flight.
Thaksin carefully avoided speaking about politics, as his allies in the People Power Party are embarking on a controversial effort to amend the constitution.
