Thaksin In Australia

[Old Croc]

from ABC news:

Thailand's Thaksin on holidays in Melbourne

By Karen Percy

Thailand's exiled Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is in Australia on a private visit.

Mr Thaksin's private jet arrived in Melbourne last night.

His Bangkok-based lawyer says Mr Thaksin will play golf and have a holiday over the next 10 days.

But the military junta in Thailand has been concerned about Mr Thaksin's regional visits, particularly after he met a senior member of the Singapore Government last month.

The meeting has prompted a diplomatic spat between Thailand and Singapore.

Mr Thaksin's lawyer says the former prime minister has no plans to meet any government officials or ministers while in Australia.

Mr Thaksin was ousted from office in a coup in September of last year.

He was in New York at the time, and has not been allowed to return to Thailand.

Thai authorities are not yet commenting on Mr Thaksin's presence in Australia.

His visit to Australia is expected to attract scrutiny from Thai authorities concerned about a possible return to politics by Mr Thaksin.

A spokesman for the Australian Government says it is not aware of Mr Thaksin's itinerary.

[Grover]

hmm might consider doing a bit of freelance journalism.

[Old Croc]

Sorry Grover, just noticed you had posted this in another thread.

[Grover]

no worries. deserves its own thread i guess

[Axel]

Does John Howard play golf?

Would be the right partner for Thaksin's PRIVATE visit.

[Pink Mist]

he is an overstay risk if I ever heard one.

1. no reason to return to Thailand

2. no job.

3. no assets in LOS

how does he get a visa?

[GuestHouse]

I trust Australia has not forgotten Thaksin's remarks regarding Australia wanting to join ASEAN.

Something about Australians having the wrong colour hair, skin and eyes.

[Pink Mist]

Does John Howard play golf?

Would be the right partner for Thaksin's PRIVATE visit.

howard has his hands full at the moment, he doesn't need another topic for the media to pounce

[jaidam]

What private jet??

I just can"t remember Thaksin buying a private jet himself. But do remember the govt last year buying a small Airbus to use for official flights. Can't be the same plane surely?

[Pink Mist]

What private jet??

I just can"t remember Thaksin buying a private jet himself. But do remember the govt last year buying a small Airbus to use for official flights. Can't be the same plane surely?

possesion

[llso]

Good Point!

Wonder where that plane is now. You would think that Taksin flew to the whatever it was meeting in New York in that very plane.

Does anybody know?

LL

[samran]

I trust Australia has not forgotten Thaksin's remarks regarding Australia wanting to join ASEAN.

Something about Australians having the wrong colour hair, skin and eyes.

To be fair, you sure it wasn't Mahathir from Malaysia?

The reason I say this was the fact that Thailand and Australia signed a FTA on his watch, insituted a Working Holiday Visa between the two countries and Australians as far as I know are the only nationality techically where business people on arrival do not require a work permit to undertake meetings etc. They also enjoy more liberties so far as work permits go than most, if not all, other countries

Also that Thailand supported Australia's move for an ASEAN - Australia/NZ FTA which is a defacto membership of ASEAN....

I only hope though, he is stupid enough to grant another interview to an Australian journo. Last time he was there for the FTA signing, he was rippped to shreads live on TV. A very rare occurance.

[alexth]

The meeting has prompted a diplomatic spat between Thailand and Singapore.

If the man drinks a glass of water, the thai junta would make him eligible for an inquisitorian treat...

[Goshawk]

Strewth !!!

Thaksin in Oz ? Bonzer..!

Do you think he gives a Castlemaine XXXX about stuff 'back home' ?

No way..! he's too busy out there dodging stingrays and stroking Skippy.

[Jet Gorgon]

Goshawk, who's Skippy?

[Austhaied]

Great, throw a few "Goong" on the barbie.. And lets get "Chopper Read" to serve it up to him..

[dukkha]

Anyone with money can hire a jet at their own expense, and in Toxin's case, money is no obstacle..as an Australian I am somewhat interested in the process that allowed him to enter the country as there is no way I can get my Thai partner into the country as he does not have employment here in Thailand..Maybe he will be taken on a tour of the famous Yarra and if someone is quick witted they could tip the boat and he may fall into Melbourne's famous River..Then John Coward wil always be willing to throw a life raft to someone of his own ilk..how ashamed I feel as an Australian...maybe he could meet with Pauline Hanson, she seems to have a predilection for Azians....Dukkha

[dukkha]

Howard is NOT a golfer...he is a Jogger.....witness his international jogging performances..He is a lawyer from Wolstencrot in New South Wales...more conservative than Ghengis Khan Dukkha

[0Mix1up]

Hi TVs,

Surely pug face downer (the man least qualified to be but is foreign minister (don't mention cronys))

would meet him...

He and bushlicker were quite against the coup to "depose a democraticly elected government"

I was in Melbourne last night looking for him, I need some help on how to get my Bg back to oz and if he had any tips on visa for los.

cheers all

[coldcrush]

Send him back to the U.K we accept all!

P.S We take Mastercard and Visa

[maccaroni man]

the tables are turned; everywhere he goes will say welcome spend your money and leave.

[Jai Dee]

I was in Melbourne last night looking for him, I need some help on how to get my Bg back to oz and if he had any tips on visa for los.

[Ned]

Apparently he's meeting up with Andrew Robb (was he president of the Liberal Party?) with whom he did some successful business deals in Thailand some time back.....Netted them millions they say.

[Sing_Sling]

I just wish the Thai governmet would stop highlighting Thanksin's every move, it simly makes them look insecure and frightened of Box-Head.

[LaoPo]

I just wish the Thai governmet would stop highlighting Thanksin's every move, it simly makes them look insecure and frightened of Box-Head.

That's right !

Interesting article at Irrawaddy.org about that:

"Let Thaksin Talk—We No Longer Have to Listen"

excerpts:

" Should we jump every time Thaksin Shinawatra gives an interview? Is the political maneuvering of the former prime minister consuming too much of our energy? "

and:

" The generals should learn to educate themselves on how the international media work so that they will not have to cry out every time they read or hear Thaksin's comments. The only way they can silence Thaksin or render his arguments irrelevant is to make sure that the investigations into the former leader's misdeeds produce results as soon as possible. "

Full article here:

http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=6663&z=165

LaoPo

[Toni]

from ABC news:

Thailand's Thaksin on holidays in Melbourne

By Karen Percy

Thailand's exiled Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is in Australia on a private visit.

Mr Thaksin's private jet arrived in Melbourne last night.

His Bangkok-based lawyer says Mr Thaksin will play golf and have a holiday over the next 10 days.

But the military junta in Thailand has been concerned about Mr Thaksin's regional visits, particularly after he met a senior member of the Singapore Government last month.

The meeting has prompted a diplomatic spat between Thailand and Singapore.

Mr Thaksin's lawyer says the former prime minister has no plans to meet any government officials or ministers while in Australia.

Mr Thaksin was ousted from office in a coup in September of last year.

He was in New York at the time, and has not been allowed to return to Thailand.

Thai authorities are not yet commenting on Mr Thaksin's presence in Australia.

His visit to Australia is expected to attract scrutiny from Thai authorities concerned about a possible return to politics by Mr Thaksin.

A spokesman for the Australian Government says it is not aware of Mr Thaksin's itinerary.

Was at Bali last week as Antara (Indonesian official press) published.

[mark lamai]

hat a cheap charlie

he went there coz he got an offer of free scuba diving on the barrier reef among the sting rays.

shootinga movie about his environmental awareness.

[tuky]

I would just love to find out his visa arrangements.

Do you think he has another passport? ie American/UK etc?

I can't imagine him standing in the line at the Embassy, which he should seeing as he onlyy has a normal passport nowdays.

This has me intrigued...