Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra last night made his presence felt during a 10-minute phone-in before a gathering of several thousands of supporters in the eastern resort city of Pattaya.

"This is the genuine voice of former prime minister Thaksin. I'm still alive and my health is fine. When I kept quiet, they said I'm dead, when I talked, they said I'm a trouble-maker," said the fugitive, who fled the country to avoid a two-year jail term.

Last night's phone-in was his first in months.

The red-shirt gathering took place in Pattaya, Chon Buri, after the government lifted the emergency rule in the tourist province.

Pheu Thai MPs Jatuporn Promphan and Apiwan Veerachai also joined the gathering on Sukhumvit Highway leading to Pattaya where a concert was held. Public speakers criticised the Abhisit government's performance as well as the treatment of red-shirt protesters in criminal cases.

Pheu Thai MPs urged supporters to join forces by placing roses in front of prisons nationwide on September 17.

The opposition party also said there are irregularities in the government's handling of the sensitive Viktor Bout case.