Since most media organizations in Thailand will not or are not allowed to interview Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin has used other forms of communication, such as video links to speak directly to supporters, and also twitter. The Bangkok Post on Thaksin’s use of twitter:

Thaksin is arguably one of the most effective twitterers – in a political sense – to use the microblogging service.

From his first “tweet” on July 17, 2009, Thaksin has used the URL twitter.com/Thaksinlive to attack his political rivals, mobilise his supporters, console and encourage his three children, defend himself against any allegations and publicise his charitable activities.

He moans, laments, pleads and spoons out satire through his Twitter page. One of the regular messages is: “I want to go home.” Although there are other channels Thaksin uses to communicate with his fans, including a website, online social network Facebook, phone-ins and live-video broadcasts, Twitter is apparently his favourite, probably because it is the easiest way for the media to pick up his quotes and catch up with his latest moves.

Thaksin has almost 65,000 followers. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Twitter page has 50,000 followers. Thaksin mostly tweets from his base in Dubai.

BP: As of writing up this post, Thaksin has more than 66,000 followers. He, or at least someone on his behalf, tweets regularly and responds to some tweets particularly from his supporters or those who are sympathetic to him. As noted in the article, and as blogged about last year:

His tweets on twitter – as that is the main way they [the media] can report what he says now – are regularly reported. To repeat his words verbatim doesn’t seem a crime, but to interview almost borders on a hanging offence

BP: Is Thaksin No. 1 on twitter for Thailand?