Initiated by a Thai coordinator and former journalist, who requested not to be named, the seminar has been allowed by SOAS's Centre of Southeast Asian Studies to take place on its premises. Panellists include the editor of Phujadkarn newspaper Sondhi Limthongkul and former chairman of the Senate's foreign affairs committee Kraisak Chonhavan.

The coordinator said Thaksin, who currently lives in west London with his daughter and wife, has not been invited due to security concerns. At present the event has received overwhelming response with more than 100 bookings from Thai students, local academics, media members and foreign observers from Germany and other countries.

A member of the Thai Royal Family will also attend the event. The moderator has not yet been named.

"We aim to provide a forum for Thai people and observers in the United Kingdom to express their views on Thailand and assess Thaksin's tenure as prime minister. So far Thais in the UK have been very quiet, unlike Thais in the United States. I thought about inviting Thaksin so that we'd have two sides of the story, but we decided not to,'' said the coordinator.

He added that the event had originally been planned before the military coup and scheduled for late October, but rescheduled in direct response to the military coup.

Issues to be discussed include Thaksin's administration, the military coup, the insurgency in southern Thailand and postThaksin Thailand. The event will feature video footage illustrating key events during Thaksin's administration.

The organisers had planned another discussion the day after the seminar at Hyde Park Corner, but decided to scrap it due to Sondhi's immediate departure for Washington DC for another event following his London speech.

 The coordinator said that the UK's liberal atmosphere made it possible for free political expression in the seminar and he did not expect any threats from Thaksin's group.

"Any forms of abusive language and threats of any kind are not tolerated in this country. It's impossible that someone is going to be threatening us,'' he said.

He added that his views were personal and not representative of SOAS.

 However, the coordinator said that Thaksin would be welcome to participate if he wanted to, given the UK's "safe haven" for political exiles like himself.

"London is like Thaksin's second home," he said. "And it would be good for him to spend time reflecting on what he had done while still in power. I dare say this because this is London and I don't fear Thaksin's power anymore. As a southerner myself, I have no fear about Thaksin,'' said the coordinator.

He added that the military coup was the least evil choice for Thailand even though he did not support the idea of it.

The Nation