Bangkok ? Supporters of populist former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra denounced a court order to seize $1.4 billion of his assets, and vowed today to pursue a nonviolent struggle for what they said would be a people’s democracy.

But analysts and editorials widely speculated that the Supreme Court’s decision not to seize all $2.3 billion of Thaksin’s vast fortune will at least temporarily ease political conflicts that have plagued the country for the past four years.

The court ruled Friday that Thaksin abused his power to enrich himself and his family while in office and ordered that $1.4 billion of his telecommunications fortune be seized.

Thaksin was deposed by a September 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. The action was meant to quell tensions sparked by months of anti-Thaksin protests, but instead polarized the country.