Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has decided to spend more than 1 billion baht (US$29 million) in setting up a global television network called "Voice TV", which will start airing from next month, a Pheu Thai Samut Prakan MP said yesterday.

During his phone-in on Sunday night, the birthday boy said he would launch television channels devoted to education, the poor and selling Otop products.

Pracha Prasopdee said the network will be linked to People's Station and MTV and can be viewed on the already existing www.voicetv.co.th website.

Though the MP refused to reveal which satellite will be used to broadcast Voice TV, he did say that the government would not be able to block its signal.

After having travelled to several countries to gather information, do feasible studies and to talk to businessmen, diplomats and academics over the past three months, Thaksin will be putting his plans in action next month, he said.

In fact, Pracha said, Thaksin might even host his own television programmes.

The Voice TV website, run under the motto "Voice of New Generation", broadcasts Thai and foreign news shows including latest updates on Thaksin and links to his speeches like his phone-in on Sunday to mark his 60th birthday.

Pracha said the website would focus on inspiring the new generation to express themselves and share their opinions, which would offer society new opportunities.

Pheu Thai Party's deputy leader Panpree Pahittanukorn said the party would be happy if the government helped materialise Thaksin's idea of launching three TV channels for Thai citizens because it would not require huge sums.

"We have proposed the idea, and if this government does not want it, it doesn't matter because when we take over we will make it part of the national agenda," he said.

The "big surprise" that Thaksin had promised was revealed on Sunday when he said he was planning to launch 100 TV stations that could be watched across the globe.

He said these TV stations would prove that his support for Thai citizens was still strong, and that three types of shows ready for kick off were related to selling Otop products, tutoring students and soliciting funds for the poor.

The Nation/Asia News Network