Thailand on edge ahead of court verdict
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Friday, February 26, 2010
Thousands of police and soldiers went on alert across Bangkok Friday, ready to tackle any violence by supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Checkpoints have gone up across the capital, with more than 600 police guarding the court. Security agencies said thousands of riot troops were on standby in case of violence by supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra if a court orders the seizure of $2.3 billion (1.5 trillion pounds) of his family's assets.
It could take several hours before a decision on the assets is announced. Analysts expect seizure of all, or at least part of, his family's frozen wealth, keeping investors on edge after a week of strong gains in local stocks. The twice-elected Thaksin is believed to be in Dubai and says he will fight any seizure of the assets.
Some analysts say another court verdict unfavorable to Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and convicted in absentia of graft, could add weight to allegations he is the victim of a political vendetta and may spark an angry response from his supporters. Checkpoints have gone up across the capital, with more than 600 police guarding the court. Security agencies said thousands of riot troops were on standby in case of violence.
Authorities fear a violent backlash by anti-government protesters who have rallied behind Thaksin, a 60-year-old fugitive telecommunications tycoon at the center of a five-year political crisis in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.