Prosecutors Vow To Arrest Thaksin Upon His Return To Thailand

[george]

Prosecutors vow to arrest Thaksin upon his return to Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be arrested if he returns home from a self-imposed exile as planned, even if his victorious allies form a government following last weekend's general election, officials said Thursday.

Thaksin and members of his family face an array of corruption-related charges from the former leader's six years in office. He was overthrown in a bloodless, military coup last year.

"The court and police had already issued arrest warrants on him so once he arrives back to Thailand the authorities concerned are duty-bound by law to arrest him," Samphan Sarathana, a senior official in the Office of the Attorney General told The Associated Press.

Samphan, a director-general in the office, said the results of the election, won by the pro-Thaksin People's Power Party, had no bearing on the legal cases against the former prime minister.

-- AP 2007-12-27

Core leaders celebrate PPP victory with Thaksin in Hong Kong

Bangkok: -- Core leaders of the People Power party have reportedly met with Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong to celebrate the party’s victory at the polls, according to a source close to the People Power party (PPP).

The first batch of former members of the defunct Thai Rak Thai party had arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday, the source claimed. They include key leaders of the PPP such as Yongyuth Tiyapairat, Sudarat Keyupapan and Danuporn Punakan. A second batch of PPP members will reportedly make their way to Hong Kong on Thursday.

An article in the South China Morning Post recently stated Mr Thaksin’s intention of using Hong Kong as his Asian base for his planned return to Thailand. The article also reiterated Mr Thaksin’s reluctance to return to the political limelight but that he may consider serving as adviser to the PPP if his asked to do so.

As rumours about the mass gathering of former Thai Rak Thai party members in Hong Kong continue to swirl,

PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee is busy defending his party’s reputation. He scoffed at rumours that the PPP had bribed three minor parties into forming a coalition government.

“The PPP never offered 1 billion baht to any political party to form a government with us as rumoured,” he said. “I don’t think there is any party that would want to lead a government knowing full well that it had been formed illegally.”

Mr Surapong also went on to deny rumours that PPP leader Samak Sundaravej had held secret talks with Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa, but admitted that core leaders from both sides had discussed the possibility of working together in the future.

--Bangkok Post 2007-12-27

[steffi]

Well I find it hard to believe that people won't be shuffled around to ensure that Thaksin remains protected from prosecution. I honestly don't know what power the current administration will have once a new government is formed but I think the courts are under-estimating the PPP and their influence.

[Zpete]

Thaksin deserves to get his come-uppance.

Conman, fraudster and his cohorts need to be prosecuted or Thailand will become the laughing stock place of the world.

Go get him.

[hammered]

I cant see Mr. T being arresdted when he returns. More like garlanded with Samak prostrated in front of him

Has anybody noticed that Mr. Ts brother in law is being touted as justice minister? Probably not the most tactful pick the PPP could have made.

[MickyP]

Maybe the offer was not for 1 billion Baht - but the buying of votes certainly seems to be a trait of the PPP - as the EC is finding out.

[Dakhar]

folks are dreaming if they think you can run a country like thialand with some form of coruption, or any other country for that matter

[absolutelyBangkok]

Until voting day I was still convinced this country deserves better.

Not anymore.

[blaze]

Well I find it hard to believe that people won't be shuffled around to ensure that Thaksin remains protected from prosecution. I honestly don't know what power the current administration will have once a new government is formed but I think the courts are under-estimating the PPP and their influence.

I think that he will be arrested on his return. That the PPP will not only permit it but fascilitate his arrest. And that they will call for calm from Thaksin's supporters- The reason being that they MUST show themselves to be men of law- but what happens after he is arrested is a whole nother story- much of it, I suspect, we won't be privy to.

[chatette]

This is such a beat up. ``If they were in Thailand, police can arrest him and his wife because both are still wanted on Thai arrest warrants," said Samphan Sarathana, chief of international affairs for the Attorney General,.

The arrest warrants were issued by the Supreme Court in August over charges linked to a real estate deal.

This is old news and purely techical. The guy is just predictably responding to a question looking for a news angle, nothing more.

[george]

Tentative Cabinet list ready

BANGKOK: -- The People Power Party has already discussed a list of possible Cabinet members, as it prepares to announce the make-up of its coalition government on January 4.

Samak Sundaravej would become prime minister, while Chalerm Yoobamrung would take the Interior post, Thanong Bidhaya will be finance minister, with Mingkwan Saeng-suwan as deputy prime minister or commerce minister.

Yongyuth Tiyapairat is tipped for Agriculture and General Ruengroj Mahasaranond as defence minister. Somchai Wongsawat will take Justice, Noppadol Pattama gets education and Surapong Suebwonglee will be health minister.

According to PPP sources, Panpree Phahithanukorn might be sports and tourism minister, while Somphong Amornwiwat or Jaruphong Ruengsuwan would take labour.

However, the contingency list is far from finalised, as it could be affected by quotas for its coalition partners.

The cabinet also depends on Election Commission rulings on ballot violations, if PPP suffers heavily and the balance of power shifts. The PPP wants to lock in the three small parties to ensure majority control.

Sources said if Samak was somehow prevented from becoming premier, the PPP would nominate Somchai Wongsawat. Somchai is a brother-in-law of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The House Speaker's job could go to Buri Ram powerbroker Chai Chidchob, as Newin Chidchob had specifically requested the prestigious post for his father.

Initially, it had thought of giving the defence portfolio to General Chettha Thanajaro, leader of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, but it feared it might not be able to "control" the military.

In the end, they opted to go for Ruengroj instead, who is a former supreme commander and a close ally of Thaksin.

--The Nation 2007-12-27

[stevenl]

I think he will be arrested and prosecuted. The new PPP leaders have tasted power, and even though Thaksin has vowed not to get involved in politics anymore, they would loose influence when he returns. And all politicians that have tasted power want as much of it as they can, so the Democrats, miltitary and PPP will want to get rid of him.

[hammered]

Well I find it hard to believe that people won't be shuffled around to ensure that Thaksin remains protected from prosecution. I honestly don't know what power the current administration will have once a new government is formed but I think the courts are under-estimating the PPP and their influence.

I think that he will be arrested on his return. That the PPP will not only permit it but fascilitate his arrest. And that they will call for calm from Thaksin's supporters- The reason being that they MUST show themselves to be men of law- but what happens after he is arrested is a whole nother story- much of it, I suspect, we won't be privy to.

Personally I think it more likely he will arrange to be able to surrender to police and allowed to enter unarrested. He could then put up bail of a million or two. I guess they would overlook the chance of flight thingy. I honestly cant see him dragged away in chains at the airport. Mr. T does not like to lose face. imho

Anyway if his bro-in-law is justice minister as is being suggested anything could happen.

[cm-happy]

Maybe the game plan is:

Try to arrest him upon his return. Hope he tries to escape so he can be shot. All nice neat, tidy and legal

[rayw]

Maybe the offer was not for 1 billion Baht - but the buying of votes certainly seems to be a trait of the PPP - as the EC is finding out.

I am still stunned that the ordinary and quite poor people of Thailand supported the PPP, it is just beyond belief after Thaksin is almost certainly guilty of robbing these people of Thailand's inheritance of billions of Baht and ensuring their future will take many many more years before they can escape the poverty trap whilst Thaksin and his cronies just get richer and richer. Thaksin is a clever and dangerous man as he knows how to dangle irresistible carrots in front of the poor and usually badly educated Thai folk, they then take the carrot with hopeful misguided eyes and he cunningly continues to line his own pocket at the expense of Thailand's real people.

How can it be right in a country of such abject poverty that a few like Thaksin and his cronies can be so rich, and that they carry on ensuring that the poor people of Thailand remain poor, is it maybe for continued cheap labour? This is to me immoral. Sorry but I totally despair now of the future here until the electorate see some sense and start their own REAL peoples' party, much like in the UK 100 years ago when the poor working class majority had little say in politics until they formed their own political party and even then it was still problems until the 1990's when finally it became a realistic political movement of the people and showed how it can make a country prosper for an extended period. I was hoping that the world of extreme right and left politics were almost over and we could move to the consensus and truly productive centre ground, but this election has shown the extreme right can and do still deceive the masses even today.

Still this is not my country but I am a law abiding guest here who loves the place so although I can make my views known, as Thailand does support free speech in principal, there is nothing else of course we can or should do but be good guests and enjoy life here and keep our heads down. I must say though Malaysia is looking more promising for the future, I hope I am wrong but time will tell.

[adam8169]

Well put Zpete. .

The guy would be better-off staying wherever he wishes EXCEPT thailand.

He's done more than enough to HELP the country, why can't he just live peacefully for the rest of his life on top of the heaps he has amassed through his 'brilliance in business'.

The top brass in Thailand seem to have all the words for anything but doesn't seem to care when Mr.T's kid is seen riding around helping PPP campaign for the election. Didn't the kid owe the tax department some small change??

PPP will, of course, be laughed at if they do form the government. The other 2 parties are still to wait for the leader's call! (Mr.T and not Mr.S).

What kind of prime minister will thailand have if anything he decides will have to be dependent on a phone call to Mr.T???

It's obvious, though, that most things can be bought with Mr.T's money. Even old political veterans who deservingly needs to retire (with the heaps he amassed through brilliant business acumen too)

Lets hope that the pride in the hearts of Thais as well as Thai-loving expats does not get torn apart with this whole fiasco

[blaze]

Well I find it hard to believe that people won't be shuffled around to ensure that Thaksin remains protected from prosecution. I honestly don't know what power the current administration will have once a new government is formed but I think the courts are under-estimating the PPP and their influence.

I think that he will be arrested on his return. That the PPP will not only permit it but fascilitate his arrest. And that they will call for calm from Thaksin's supporters- The reason being that they MUST show themselves to be men of law- but what happens after he is arrested is a whole nother story- much of it, I suspect, we won't be privy to.

Personally I think it more likely he will arrange to be able to surrender to police and allowed to enter unarrested. He could then put up bail of a million or two. I guess they would overlook the chance of flight thingy. I honestly cant see him dragged away in chains at the airport. Mr. T does not like to lose face. imho

Anyway if his bro-in-law is justice minister as is being suggested anything could happen.

Agree- probably the best recipe for a real mess is to greet him at the airport with cuffs and a ball and chain- no- it will be a nominal arrest- which I anticipate he will fully go along with. Of course there will be bail- (why not?) and then years of protracted haggling and dealing.

[bulmercke]

He's done more than enough to HELP the country

Try saying that to the south - Khrue See and Tak Bai - or the thousands that were gunned down in his illegal 'war on drugs'.

[Insight]

Maybe the game plan is:

Try to arrest him upon his return. Hope he tries to escape so he can be shot. All nice neat, tidy and legal

Maybe Samak will show himself to be a true partner and cover him, taking any bullets.

Probably not.

[LomSak27]

I am still stunned that the ordinary and quite poor people of Thailand supported the PPP, it is just beyond belief after Thaksin is almost certainly guilty of robbing these people of Thailand's inheritance of billions of Baht and ensuring their future will take many many more years before they can escape the poverty trap whilst Thaksin and his cronies just get richer and richer

I've never have understood why so many people who have lived in LOS for a couple rounds of government, thai style, cannot seem to grasp Thaksins ADMINISTRATION, was no more nor less corrupt than previous governments.

Is it that difficult? Is there a switch that just won't click? A mental block that stops all thought when this is stated? Unlike those governments he actually gave something to poor people. Yes he is corrupt, yes he is venally corrupt we all know this. I guess the point is if the other non Thaksin administrations would have been something less than as bad as Thaksins we could honestly throw brickbats at the people who voted for the PPP.

Obviously we cannot

[LiveSteam]

Until voting day I was still convinced this country deserves better.

Not anymore.

After 34 years in Thailand I must agree with you absolutelyBangkok. Wake-up Kon Thai and smell the somtum!!!

[kelvinlinsey]

In a perfect world, Toxic.... oh sorry Thaksin would fly into Bangers awaiting him with red carpet are the 5 stooges, as he walks down the red carpet George W Bush parasends down next to him with a suicide bombers vest on and a sign across his chest say <deleted> (The War Against Terror) the bomb goes of all of them are in little bits, i get to watch it all at the pub with a cold one in my hand, and everyones happy, and i think to myself what a wonderful world........... oh NUTS Cheney!

;o)

[sukanyacondo]

The govenment try to be power and winer. But they forget to take care of Thai people. So why many people in thaialnd poor. Very important thai people up- country 90% can't think them salf because not enough educated.

[blaze]

Maybe the offer was not for 1 billion Baht - but the buying of votes certainly seems to be a trait of the PPP - as the EC is finding out.

I am still stunned that the ordinary and quite poor people of Thailand supported the PPP, it is just beyond belief after Thaksin is almost certainly guilty of robbing these people of Thailand's inheritance of billions of Baht and ensuring their future will take many many more years before they can escape the poverty trap whilst Thaksin and his cronies just get richer and richer. Thaksin is a clever and dangerous man as he knows how to dangle irresistible carrots in front of the poor and usually badly educated Thai folk, they then take the carrot with hopeful misguided eyes and he cunningly continues to line his own pocket at the expense of Thailand's real people.

How can it be right in a country of such abject poverty that a few like Thaksin and his cronies can be so rich, and that they carry on ensuring that the poor people of Thailand remain poor, is it maybe for continued cheap labour? This is to me immoral. Sorry but I totally despair now of the future here until the electorate see some sense and start their own REAL peoples' party, much like in the UK 100 years ago when the poor working class majority had little say in politics until they formed their own political party and even then it was still problems until the 1990's when finally it became a realistic political movement of the people and showed how it can make a country prosper for an extended period. I was hoping that the world of extreme right and left politics were almost over and we could move to the consensus and truly productive centre ground, but this election has shown the extreme right can and do still deceive the masses even today.

Still this is not my country but I am a law abiding guest here who loves the place so although I can make my views known, as Thailand does support free speech in principal, there is nothing else of course we can or should do but be good guests and enjoy life here and keep our heads down. I must say though Malaysia is looking more promising for the future, I hope I am wrong but time will tell.

It just might be that the masses are not as deceived as you think- just maybe they realize that the poverty you refer to is caused by a society that still is essentially feudal- and that that feudal arrangement depends upon the army for its existance. The Dems were perceived- (and not just by Thai farmers) as being too unwilling to confront the army- pretty much leaving only the PPP and the Chart Thai.

All the fancy trickle down rhetoric will still leave the poor as a permanant underclass- subject to rampant exploitation by the capitalists. You might not agree with that view- but this bar girl I knew in Pattaya- she agreed. And so did the great Economist, John Kenneth Galbraith- though he wasn't referring to Thailand specifically- he chacterized the notion as such: "if you feed enough oats to the horse, some will pass through to feed the sparrows".

Maybe the sparrows are getting a bit tired of eating horse dung.

[Farang99]

In the unlikely event that Thaksin is arrested, he will surely never come to trial - far too many people in the old and potentially in the new administrations wioudl be complicit in the corruption. Nobody in power is going to allow any attorney general to put their heads in the noose along with Thaksin.

[chinadarling]

I am still stunned that the ordinary and quite poor people of Thailand supported the PPP, it is just beyond belief after Thaksin is almost certainly guilty of robbing these people of Thailand's inheritance of billions of Baht and ensuring their future will take many many more years before they can escape the poverty trap whilst Thaksin and his cronies just get richer and richer

I've never have understood why so many people who have lived in LOS for a couple rounds of government, thai style, cannot seem to grasp Thaksins ADMINISTRATION, was no more nor less corrupt than previous governments.

Is it that difficult? Is there a switch that just won't click? A mental block that stops all thought when this is stated? Unlike those governments he actually gave something to poor people. Yes he is corrupt, yes he is venally corrupt we all know this. I guess the point is if the other non Thaksin administrations would have been something less than as bad as Thaksins we could honestly throw brickbats at the people who voted for the PPP.

Obviously we cannot

I doubt the elections were real. if there can be fixed elections in USA then there can be in Thailand. The mistake was that the coup did not stay in place longer and ensure a real election.

[LomSak27]

doubt the elections were real. if there can be fixed elections in USA then there can be in Thailand. The mistake was that the coup did not stay in place longer and ensure a real election.

Uh, I believe that if frixed elections were possible we would not be in this mess

I take it you don't talk with many thai people, say in the northeast, north, central, Bangkok, even parts of the south. General consensus is the dems will be big business big city - well the only city and as corrupt plain and simple. And they up country folks or poor and modest means will get nothing. They feel there is no big difference between corruption under other goverments and other Thaksins.

Except they get something. ----- Shocking thought isn't it.

[gwynt]

Maybe the offer was not for 1 billion Baht - but the buying of votes certainly seems to be a trait of the PPP - as the EC is finding out.

I am still stunned that the ordinary and quite poor people of Thailand supported the PPP, it is just beyond belief after Thaksin is almost certainly guilty of robbing these people of Thailand's inheritance of billions of Baht and ensuring their future will take many many more years before they can escape the poverty trap whilst Thaksin and his cronies just get richer and richer. Thaksin is a clever and dangerous man as he knows how to dangle irresistible carrots in front of the poor and usually badly educated Thai folk, they then take the carrot with hopeful misguided eyes and he cunningly continues to line his own pocket at the expense of Thailand's real people.

How can it be right in a country of such abject poverty that a few like Thaksin and his cronies can be so rich, and that they carry on ensuring that the poor people of Thailand remain poor, is it maybe for continued cheap labour? This is to me immoral. Sorry but I totally despair now of the future here until the electorate see some sense and start their own REAL peoples' party, much like in the UK 100 years ago when the poor working class majority had little say in politics until they formed their own political party and even then it was still problems until the 1990's when finally it became a realistic political movement of the people and showed how it can make a country prosper for an extended period. I was hoping that the world of extreme right and left politics were almost over and we could move to the consensus and truly productive centre ground, but this election has shown the extreme right can and do still deceive the masses even today.

Still this is not my country but I am a law abiding guest here who loves the place so although I can make my views known, as Thailand does support free speech in principal, there is nothing else of course we can or should do but be good guests and enjoy life here and keep our heads down. I must say though Malaysia is looking more promising for the future, I hope I am wrong but time will tell.

Good to see a post from someone with a pro Thailand outlook. Iagree with the comments but unfortunately the poor N.E. only consider amassing enough money to buy the weeks food and maybe a bottle of Lao Khao , so promises from the likes of PPP(Mr "t") are accepted with out question.

[CWMcMurray]

I am still stunned that the ordinary and quite poor people of Thailand supported the PPP, it is just beyond belief after Thaksin is almost certainly guilty of robbing these people of Thailand's inheritance of billions of Baht and ensuring their future will take many many more years before they can escape the poverty trap whilst Thaksin and his cronies just get richer and richer

I disagree with many of the people on this forum. While I believe that it can be debated as to whether or not Thaksin actually helped the poor people of Thailand, the PPP was elected by the poor people of Thailand because they perceive that the PPP (Thai Rak Thai) is the only party that ever even bothered to put forward any type of populous policies in this country.

What that means is that now the political debate may end up shifting in order to gain the vote of this large voter segment. I think that you will see many of the political parties begin talking about a populous agenda and helping the poor.

This may be little more than talk but at some point they may begin to actually deliver on their promises in some minor ways.

I believe if PPP did not win this election then the poor people would be written off and everything would just return to politics as usual, Bangkok is all that matters.

It may take quite a few years before the poor and uneducated become sophisticated in terms following politics but they at least have politicians interested enough in them to lie to them, which is an improvement in itself.

[Richard Hall]

It is indeed interesting to read again and again how undemocratic and unjust everything in Thailand apparantly is. All is done on the back of the poor and uneducated by the rich and powerful.

Well, now if we just take a close and objective look at the "first world" the amazing discovery will obviously be same, same but just a little different if at all.

Are there really politicians anywhere that really ever have been brought to justice whatever justice actually means? Well, history showed if actually someone had to take responsibility for his/her "misbehaviour" this was staged by third (foreign) parties upon military intervention.

Thailand is going to manage for sure. The Thai way. For most Westerners the Thai way appears to be kind of strange and quite often is judged to be inferior. What else can be expected from an "underdeveloped" country is the common biased opinion.

What Government in what country has actually come to power by means of real fair, honest campaigns and stuck to the word given to the voters lured into voting by nothing but money backed publicistic means?

- Vote for me and I'm gonna give you free education, reduce unemployment, improve the living conditions of anyone etc. etc. publicized in costly pre-election fun parties.

- I give you 100 Baht if you vote for me.

Same, same but just a little bit different.

"Khun Thaksin and now Khun Samak care for the poor" is the often heard opion by the poor representing the majority of Thai voters. By democratic understanding a voice is a voice and there is no first and second class voting power. Khun Thaksin has been ousted because he started to become too powerful and spin out of control but the old popularity has still be lingering.

A catch 22, no way out because two fronts are facing?

Justice must be done for the sake of Thailand and her people.

Since everyone is right and everyone is wrong there will be only one way to go. The middle way, the compromise. What else can it be in a buddhist country? That must be the Thai way. Vowing to arrest is not any better than vowing to stage a comeback to prove oneself. Can both sides free themselves from their egoism? If not, their will be no winners but all are gonna lose.

For the country. For the people. That's all what counts and that's where EVERYONE must be heading for.

Long live His Majesty the King, the Father of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Edited December 27, 2007 by Richard Hall

[crocodilexp]

I've never have understood why so many people who have lived in LOS for a couple rounds of government, thai style, cannot seem to grasp Thaksins ADMINISTRATION, was no more nor less corrupt than previous governments.

Is it that difficult? Is there a switch that just won't click? A mental block that stops all thought when this is stated? Unlike those governments he actually gave something to poor people. Yes he is corrupt, yes he is venally corrupt we all know this. I guess the point is if the other non Thaksin administrations would have been something less than as bad as Thaksins we could honestly throw brickbats at the people who voted for the PPP.

Spot on, LomSak27. Corruption wise, bad but not worse than any other government.

Thaksin's gov't did quite a few things done that actually helped people -- introduced 30-baht healthcare, handed out loans to poor (my gf is the first from her family to go to university thanks to an edu loan), subdued the rampant drug problem (albeit in an illegal and murderous way), managed the economy in a reasonably competent way (by Thai standards).

There were serious blunders along the way -- mainly mess in the south and allowing the institutional system to get so messed up to give the opportunity for the army to intevene.

I'm not a fan of PPP at all. Samak seems to be among the most repulsive Thai dinosaurs (police minisiter in 1976, and deputy prime minister in 1992 -- enough said). Still, it helps to put things in perspective.

BTW, the democrats look nice (Abhisit is a handsome and well-spoken fellow), but it's the ugly and scheming opportunists that usually beat the idealists anyway (think Clinton vs. Obama). The Dems would probably be not much less corrupt if they won...

Edited December 27, 2007 by crocodilexp