Thai protesters shun products linked to Yingluck Shinawatra's family
But mobile phone company hit by return of SIM cards says family sold its shares in 2006
Some Thai anti-government protesters followed the advice of their leader yesterday, shunning products of firms linked to the family of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and handing back mobile phone SIM cards.
The protesters have blocked main Bangkok intersections with tents, tyres and sandbags, seeking to unseat Yingluck and halt the influence of her billionaire brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, an ousted former prime minister regarded by many as the real power behind the government.
Last week, they targeted businesses linked, or once linked, to the Shinawatra family, sending stock prices tumbling, and yesterday some answered protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban's call to return their SIM cards belonging to mobile phone company Advanced Info Service (AIS).
The company promptly sent a text message to clients saying it no longer had any connection with the Shinawatra family.
"AIS is not involved in politics and is not a pipeline for any side," it said. "Dr Thaksin [Shinawatra] and family have already sold all shares in the company since January 23, 2006, and from then are no longer connected with the company."
Aunjit Wongsampan, 65, lined up in central Bangkok to hand in her SIM card. "I think the signal is poor and I am changing it because the company is too wealthy," she said.