UDON THANI – Approximately 50,000 supporters of the UDD gathered at an open-air plaza in Udon yesterday to rally against the current government and eagerly await the arrival of an SMS text message from deposed ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The stage show featured a series of speakers and performers who denounced the Democrat-led government as illegitimate and against democratic principles, and demanded new elections and the arrest of PAD leaders for criminal acts against state security.

At approximately 9:45pm, UDD leader Veera Musigapong held up a HTC Touch Dual GSM phone in the air, announcing that he has received a text from Thaksin. The crowd cheered, and then Veera read the following message, later forwarded to journalists: “Hey tx 4 da rally, u ppl are da best! Luv an xxx ThaxN.”

The SMS was the 35^th that has been sent by the fugitive politician since February when he stopped making phone calls to the rallies because of “excessive international calling rates.” A spokesperson for Thaksin says that the money saved by not making phone calls will be used to help the poor once Thaksin is rightfully restored to power.

Despite rumors about reduced funding for the rallies since Thaksin’s assets were seized, UDD leaders insisted that they still had all the resources to continue fighting for what they insist is “truth and justice for all Thais.” The change from calls to SMS was simply a practical way for Thaksin to get his message out cost-efficiently, they said.

Meanwhile, next week’s scheduled rally has been moved from Sanam Luang to Facebook.