Shinawatra sends Valentine to supporters

Fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Valentine’s Day phone call broadcast to supporters back home in Thailand from a mystery location.

Mr Thaksin said he was calling on the “day of love” to commend his supporters “love for democracy”.

The call-in was broadcast at yesterday evening’s fundraiser for Mr Thaksin’s supporters near Bangkok.

Mr Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and has lived mostly in self-exile.

He was convicted in absentia in October of violating a conflict of interest law and sentenced to two years in prison.

A close political ally in Bangkok, Jakrapob Penakir, declined to comment on his whereabouts or recent reports that Mr Thaksin was travelling in Nicaragua and elsewhere in South America.