Thaksin Should Have His Diplomatic Passport Back

[george]

Thaksin should have his diplomatic passport back - Noppadob

BANGKOK: -- Ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has deserved rights to get back his diplomatic passport that was revoked after the military junta took power, newly-appointed Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Thursday.

"By rules of laws and as long as other former prime ministers could hold on their diplomatic passports after they were out of power, Khun Thaksin has the rights to have it back," Noppadon said.

The new foreign minister was legal adviser and spokesman of Thaksin.

Ousted Thaksin, who has been living in exile in London, is now holding normal passport after the foreign ministry decided to revoke his diplomatic passport after the coup.

-- The Nation 2008-02-07

[A_Traveller]

I also believe he made the point that 'Thaksin is presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law', words of great relevance to the under appeal Prime Minster as well.

Regards

PS Now will the amnesty discussion start soon, mid term or at the end of Samak's term? Betting being illegal... but ..... odds anyone?

[Plus]

Haven't you seen Samak's defiant stand that he won't consider amnesty until three last months of his full term?

He might change his mind again, though.

[A_Traveller]

^ Yes I posted about that last night, hence the question. The reports were contradictory.

Regards

POST

Edited February 7, 2008 by A_Traveller

[Scott]

I am araid the country is going to start looking like a bunch of bafoons. Either former PM are or aren't eligible to carry such a passport--not, 'if we like you, you can, but otherwise you can't.'

[A_Traveller]

^ To provide perspective, the position taken by the CNS was that Thaksin was engaging in 'activities' which were not commensurate with his holding the diplomatic passport, hence its revocation. However, with the new crew in place a symbolic action such as this will play well.

Regards

[Plus]

^ Yes I posted about that last night, hence the question. The reports were contradictory.

It's on Nation's front page today, along with bunch of quotes from Samak's yesterday's talk. I haven't seen any contracdictory reports.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin should have his diplomatic passport back - Noppadob

BANGKOK: -- Ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has deserved rights to get back his diplomatic passport that was revoked after the military junta took power, newly-appointed Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Thursday.

"By rules of laws and as long as other former prime ministers could hold on their diplomatic passports after they were out of power, Khun Thaksin has the rights to have it back," Noppadon said.

The new foreign minister was legal adviser and spokesman of Thaksin.

The law according to Noppadope...

How many people carrying diplomatic passports from Thailand have outstanding arrest warrants and have refused subpoenas?

Is this what Tony C was alluding to with "there's a reason why Noppadope was chosen as Foreign Minister"?

Edited February 7, 2008 by sriracha john

[rixalex]

I thought that all the ministers were just given a lecture to remind them that they are there to serve the people.

Seems though that Mr. Noppadon has immediately made it very clear he is just there to serve one man. Are there not more important issues for him to be tackling on his first day at work?

[Plus]

I read that he is the first Foreign Minister who doesn't come from diplomatic corps.

He naturally has no idea what he is doing and what is supposed to be done.

[A_Traveller]

Hit the reset button. According to both the Manager {according to a friend who translated} and Bangkok Post {Breaking news} the new Foreign Minister has ceased to be Thaksin's legal advisor and stated that he will not exercise his power to re-issue the diplomatic passport {Red Book} of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra that was revoked after the military coup.

Regards

LINK BP

LINK Manager {Thai}

Edited February 7, 2008 by A_Traveller

[nothingleftbutfaith]

I read that he is the first Foreign Minister who doesn't come from diplomatic corps.

He naturally has no idea what he is doing and what is supposed to be done.

It looks like total incompetence was the selection criteria for the whole government anyway...

[A_Traveller]

I read that he is the first Foreign Minister who doesn't come from diplomatic corps.

Former Foreign Minister, {'97 to '01} now Sec Gen of ASEAN, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan was not a diplomat either, so that snippet is in error. Please note I'm not making any comparison between the two apart from that background point.

Regards

Edited February 7, 2008 by A_Traveller

[gdhm]

I also believe he made the point that 'Thaksin is presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law', words of great relevance to the under appeal Prime Minster as well.

Regards

PS Now will the amnesty discussion start soon, mid term or at the end of Samak's term? Betting being illegal... but ..... odds anyone?

I agree 100% with 'Thaksin is presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law' but I also understand there are 2 (or is it 3) Thai official arrest warrants out on Thaksin, NOT for being guilty of ANY of the charges but for failing to attend the Thai Court Hearings as ordered by the Thai Judiciary of which he is 100% guilty.

I assume it is felt Thaksin should not be above the Law when it comes to answering charges deemed by the courts of his own country that there are legal cases to be answered in a Court of Law.

I would think this alone would bring into serious question Thaksin being eligible (currently) for a Diplomatic passport and I am personally surprised that the statement has been made.

Being Thaksin's (is it ex legal adviser and spokesman I would think the new Foreign Minister may find conflicts of interest at times where Thaksin's personal best interests may not be in the interests (or priority) of the new Thai Government or the Thai People necessarily. I believe this statement already is showing the close ties between the two men.

Regards

Dave

Edited February 7, 2008 by gdhm

[esprit]

I read that he is the first Foreign Minister who doesn't come from diplomatic corps.

He naturally has no idea what he is doing and what is supposed to be done.

It looks like total incompetence was the selection criteria for the whole government anyway...

Partially correct but the ability to siphon vast sums from Public projects into private individuals offshore bank accounts was also high up on the selection criteria.

[Tony Clifton]

Thaksin's diplomatic passport must've been one of the top issues of their Thaksin's agenda, an itch worse than the worst of all hemorrhoid cases. Once back in power, didn't take them long to start scratching.What does he need the diplomatic passport for now that he's declared yet again he's out of politics? Heck, he's the owner of Manchester City football Club! :lol:They'll do anything for the Little Emperor's under his very short reign and screw up their reputations for the rest of their miserable lives

I wonder in what order Noppadol made both statements below.

Ousted PM should get red passport back : new FM

Ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has deserved his rights to get back his diplomatic passport that was revoked after the military junta took power, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Thursday.

Ousted PM should get red passport back : new FM

"Due to the rules of laws and as long as other former prime ministers can keep their diplomatic passports, Khun Thaksin should get back his diplomatic passport," said Noppadon on his first day as foreign minister.

Noppadol was legal adviser and spokesman of Thaksin, who was ousted by a coup in 2006.

Foreign Ministry decided to cancel Thaksin's diplomatic passport, known as red passport, shortly after a Thai court charged Thaksin of abusing of power last year.

Noppadon said Thaksin is presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law."

Noppadon ends role as Thaksin legal aide

(BangkokPost.com) - Noppadon Pattama announced the end of his role as legal adviser of the Shinawatra family on Thursday after he becomes new foreign minister.

Mr Noppadon vowed he will not exercise his power to re-issue diplomatic passport of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra that was revoked after the military coup.

He also promised not to interfere in the ministry's internal policies and the transfer of officials.

His priority is to solve national crisis and restore Thailand's credibility in order to bring back foreign investors.

"My priority is to restore image of the country, especially restoring credibility among investors for political and economic stability," Mr Noppadon told reporters.

Edited February 7, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[chownah]

Toxin already has a reply to anyone asking why he didn't show up for the court appearances and indeed why he won't come into the country at all.....people have threatened his life and a gov't official (can't remember who but I think it was whoever should be responsible for protecting Toxin from violence if he should return) made a public statement that he could not guarantee Toxin's safety.....regardless of what anyone here might imagine are other reasons (guilt might be imagined as a reason) this is really the only reason he needs I think. It was totally foolish for whoever it was to make that public statement....unless it was planned as a way the help keep Toxin away...to keep Toxin away because if he returned he might be killed...and how would that play out?.....or another possibility is that he would return and succeed in getting himself cleared of all the charges....and how would that play out?....anyway...noone knows what would have happened if he had returned since he didn't and he has his excuse so everyone is happy....pro Toxin people have the excuse of security....anti Toxin people have the excuse that he would be proven guilty....everyone has something to busy themselves argueing about.....arguing about something that will not make a change in anything substantial in how the gov't is run...its a circus to waste everyones time and keep them from focusing in on things that would improve the political system here.

Chownah

[slimdog]

I read that he is the first Foreign Minister who doesn't come from diplomatic corps.

Considering the major roles during the past two years of two previous Foreign Ministers, neither of whom served with the Diplomatic corps, I find that a strange statement.

On September 29th 1992 Chuan Leekpai appointed Squardron-Leader Prasong Soonsiri as Minister of foreign Affairs, he was succeeded on the 25th October 1994 by Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra...

[Tony Clifton]

The man is a living a soap opera with these continuous assassination attempts while his wife and children walk around freely wearing silk and the latest Emporium imports, not Kevlar. Noppadol also played the fear for his life card but weeks later the cockeyed little mouthpiece proudly struts around as Foreign Minister?.

<deleted>*# Tamiflu, give 'em this.

[roamer]

You have to wonder just how long it will be before the Bangkok street protests start again, and the outcome when they do. If anything people will be even more angry than before as they watch this farcical situation develop. Its bad enough to be screwed but even worse to be laughed at whilst they are doing it.

[sriracha john]

It's as simple as 1, 2, 3...

1. Return to Thailand

2. Stand trial on the outstanding arrest warrants

3. If found not guilty on all counts, re-issue diplomatic passport in keeping with his status as an ex-PM.

[Plus]

I read that he is the first Foreign Minister who doesn't come from diplomatic corps.

It's clearly wrong, I apologise, it should read "It will be the first time a Thai foreign minister will have a background as a lawyer and been exposed to the judicial system."

He served as an aide to Surin once (who was a Deputy Foreign Minister at the time).

http://nationmultimedia.com/search/page.ne...amp;id=30064336

[sriracha john]

excerpt posted below with the remaining article posted in the "New Cabinet" thread:

TRT policies to be revived

Ministers of the Samak Cabinet began their first day in office yesterday by announcing a mixed bag of policies that largely reflect the economic populism of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama focused on returning the diplomatic passport to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I don't have a policy to return the diplomatic passport (to Thaksin), but as long as the laws and regulations say all former prime ministers have the right to hold such a passport, I think all should get equal treatment before the law," Noppadon told a press conference.

The Surayud government terminated Thaksin's diplomatic passport as the former prime minister allegedly sought to travel around the world and discredit the junta.

"Since the court has not yet ruled on Thaksin's charges, we deem him innocent and even the junta-sponsored 2007 Constitution guarantees that right," the minister said.

Noppadon, who said he has already resigned as legal adviser to the Shinawatra family, would allow foreign ministry officials a freehand to consider whether Thaksin should get his diplomatic passport back in accordance with laws and regulations.

"We will restore the image of the Kingdom in the international community to build international confidence, notably among foreign investors, in political and economic stability," he said.

During his first day in office Noppadon received briefings from senior officials at the ministry and met ambassadors from Asean countries in the evening. The new minister will make his first foreign visit to Laos next week.

- The Nation

[younghusband]

I read that he is the first Foreign Minister who doesn't come from diplomatic corps.

It's clearly wrong, I apologise, it should read "It will be the first time a Thai foreign minister will have a background as a lawyer and been exposed to the judicial system."

He served as an aide to Surin once (who was a Deputy Foreign Minister at the time).

http://nationmultimedia.com/search/page.ne...amp;id=30064336

Leaving Noopadol's cv to one side, I don't really understand why a Foreign Minister needs to have a diplomatic corps background.In Europe for example it isn't seen as necessary at all.In the UK I think the only recent Foreign Minister with such a career background was Douglas Hurd.

What's needed is political weight,leadership qualities, intelligence, knowledge of international affairs,energy and ideally an affable personality.There are always senior officials to advise on agreed Thai strategic objectives, policy minutiae and precedent.I suppose what's also needed is the independence of mind to tell senior officials who is the boss when occasion arises.

[Plus]

Noppadon can always remind his staff who the boss is. That's about the only fitting quality.

[younghusband]

Noppadon can always remind his staff who the boss is. That's about the only fitting quality.

Granted that your comment was quite amusing, it's not an answer to my question.Noppadol apart, I couldn't care less about him although understand him to be very able despite the attacks on him on this forum, is it in fact normal in Thailand for the Foreign Minister to have diplomatic service background? And if so why?

[Plus]

No it probably isn't, it was my mistake, the statement had no substance whatsoever.

That article in the Nation said quite a lot about Thai foreign policy in the past six years. Noppadon is clearly not an improvement.

Is he capable? Capable of what? Talking to cameras? That is not enough for the position and responsibilities it entails. He could have started with something more substantial than talking about diplomatic passports.

[chownah]

Doesn't seem like there is any indication yet whether he is an imporvement or not since he hasn't done anything....and then there is always the value judgement place on those holding the office before....those who want to give him a bad job evaluation will wax poetic on the virtues of those from the distant past while those who want to praise him will show how disgusting the previous office holders were. Sad that there probably won't be much intelligent discussion on his performance...or maybe I'm wrong and there will be lots of thoughtful non-partisan comments.....probably not. We could get started in developing a perspective if someone would post some things that others have done to show their superior abilities or lack there of....or even some links to mention of previous office holder's activities. Then we would know something about this position and could better judge his performance.

Chownah

[A_Traveller]

From MFA website

Name : Mr. Noppadon Pattama

Date of Birth : 23 April 1961

Place of Birth : Nakorn Rachasima, Thailand

Education

- LL.B. (Hons.), Thammasat University 1982

- Thai Barrister at Law 1983

- B.A. in Law, Oxford University 1988

- LL.M. (Corporate & Commercial Law), London University 1990

- Of Lincoln’s Inn, Barrister at Law 1991

- M.A., Oxford University 1992

Political Experience

- Secretary to Leader of the Opposition 1995-1996

- Member of Parliament 1996-2000

- Member of Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives 1996-2000

- Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Minister 1999-2001

- Vice Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment 2006

Honours

- Royally awarded Ananda Mahidol Scholarship from His Majesty the King to study laws in the U.K. 1984

- President of Thai Students’ Association in the U.K ( Samaggi Samagom) 1988-1989

- Participant in The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program 1981

PS For those who have decent memory's this does mean he was a member of the Democrat Party.

Edited February 8, 2008 by A_Traveller

[selftaopath]

I am araid the country is going to start looking like a bunch of bafoons. Either former PM are or aren't eligible to carry such a passport--not, 'if we like you, you can, but otherwise you can't.'

Humn, interesting work "start."