In a long-awaited decision, Thailand's Supreme Court ruled Friday that fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had abused his power for personal gain and should be stripped of $1.4 billion of his frozen $2.3-billion fortune.
The decision appeared designed to strike a balance between competing camps by leaving some of his fortune untouched, but it was unlikely to end the nation's four-year political crisis.
A force of 500 riot police officers guarded the courthouse as the justices' decision was read out over 7 1/2 hours, but the expected demonstrations didn't materialize.
Thaksin supporters said their struggle was greater than a single court decision and pledged to launch a "million-man" march March 12 that would show their muscle by blocking traffic and government buildings. Their goal: to topple the government, force new elections and end "rule of the aristocrats."
"Accepting death is better than letting the elites rule us," said Thonglor Manglat, a retiree and Thaksin supporter, outside the Supreme Court before the verdict was announced. "Even if the soldiers come out and shoot at us next month, we won't run in fear."
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