TO GO WITH AFP STORY 'THAILAND-POLITICS-

TO GO WITH AFP STORY 'THAILAND-POLITICS-PROTEST-ECONOMY-THAKSIN' by Rachel O'BRIEN In this picture taken on January 13, 2010 a Thai woman leads her buffaloes through a field outside a village on the outskirts of Udon Thani, in Thailand's impoverished northeast. Here in ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's stronghold - the neglected northeastern region of Isan, which is the poorest part of Thailand -, his followers say he was the first prime minister to properly address the needs of the rural populace. While agriculture is the main economic activity in Isan, which is tucked away from Thailand's well-trodden tourist trail, farming has been hindered by the arid, sandy land that allows for fewer rice harvests than in other areas. Analysts say a dearth in quality education, technology and infrastructure across the region has also been key to the people's poverty. Thaksin appealed to these marginalised masses not only with his populist policies but also in his style of leadership, according to historian Chris Baker. The ex-PM's supporters say they will not stop their street protests until the downfall of Abhisit, who took power in December 2008 with a slim majority in a parliamentary vote after the fall of the previous pro-Thaksin government. AFP PHOTO/Christophe ARCHAMBAULT (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)