Thaksin and Wife Fail to Board Return Flight

[Jai Dee]

Exile rumours swirl around former Thai PM Thaksin

Speculation about a possible return to exile by ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra reached fever pitch in Thailand on Monday as he and his wife failed to return from an overseas trip for a court hearing.

Lawyers for Thaksin, who remains a powerful force behind the current government, said they had no idea where their client was, after two airline industry sources told Reuters Thaksin had never boarded a plane on Sunday night from Beijing, as he had planned. "As of now, nobody in the lawyer team knows where he is," lawyer Kamnuan Chalopatham told Reuters. "We should have some progress before noon."

A pro-Thaksin MP also told reporters at the airport on Sunday night that Thaksin, facing a slew of corruption cases lodged since his removal in a 2006 coup, was not coming home, and suggested he had flown to London.

If true, Thaksin's decision to flee rather than fight a string of highly divisive corruption trials could mean the beginning of the end of the political turmoil that has dogged Thailand's government and markets for the last three years.

The stock market is expected to rise amid hopes Thaksin's removal from the political scene would lower the chances of street clashes or worse between his supporters and opponents.

Thaksin owns UK football club Manchester City, has a property in London and at least one of his adult children is studying there.

Kamnuan said Thaksin and his wife Potjaman, who was sentenced to three years in jail last month for tax fraud, had until 0930 GMT to report to the Supreme Court. He also said the team of Thaksin lawyers was working on a statement to the court.

Source: Reuters - 11 August 2008

[george]

Urgent: Thaksin, Pojaman reach England: aide

BANGKOK: --Wichit Plungsrikul, a legal advisor of the People Power Party, confirmed Monday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, had reached England Sunday night.

Wichit said Thaksin's lawyers were meeting to draft a statement to give to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

The couple were supposed to attend the first hearing on the trial of the Ratchadapisek land purchase Monday morning.

Wichit said the statement would be submitted to the court in the afternoon.

-- The Nation 2008-08-11

[Briggsy]

Thai former PM Thaksin may announce political asylum

Rumors about if Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will seek political asylum aboard will be clear on Monday, since Thaksin will make an announcement through his lawyers in Bangkok in the morning, a political source said.

It is said that Thaksin is very likely to announce the political asylum state through the announcement.

Rumors they were preparing to go into exile dominated Bangkok political circles last week. Their spokesmen have repeatedly said the duo will be back and make their court appearance.

Source: Xinhua - 11 August 2008

I see Xinhua has descended to the levels of incorrect use of English in journalism as the rapidly deteriorating Nation.

A fleeing criminal cannot "announce asylum". They got it right later saying he would seek asylum. This is an outright lie by the way. Thaksin and his family have long since satisfied FLR/ILR requirements to stay in the UK. There is also no way they would qualify for "asylum".

The incorrect use returns again later in the piece and they finally get it right at the end saying he is "going into exile".

[Jai Dee]

Thai stocks jump at start on Thaksin speculation

Thailand's benchmark stock index <.SETI> opened up more than 2 percent on Monday amid speculation that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may go back into exile, lowering political tension.

At 0302 GMT, the main SET index was up 2.74 percent at 709.64 after opening up 2.56 percent. PTT , Thailand's biggest energy firm, was 4.7 percent higher at 268 baht and its energy subsidiary PTT Exploration was up 3.33 percent at 155 baht.

Source: Reuters - 11 August 2008

[george]

Pracha says Thaksin made right decision not to return

BANGKOK: -- People Power Party MP Pracha Prasopdee said Monday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a right decision not to return to Thailand.

Pracha said Thaksin respected the judicial system but he definitely had certain reasons to decide against returning to the country.

"He has his rights, freedom and honour to protect. We should wait for him to explain his reasons," Pracha said.

-- The Nation 2008-08-11

[hammered]

Kriangkrai Juengjaturapit, Chief Judge of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, said if the couple fail to turn up today their lawyers must offer an explanation to the court. "If there are no reasons given, or the reasons are not good enough, the court will consider that they have the intention of fleeing and they will face arrest warrants," Mr Kriangkrai said. The court would then continue the trial of the couple in absentia until a verdict is given, he said. If the couple fail to appear on the day the verdict is given, the reading of the verdict will be adjourned for 30 days. After that, if the two still do not show up, the court will read out the verdict in their absence, Mr Kriangkrai said. "Until now, there have been no reports that Thaksin and Potjaman will report to the court, or that they will lodge a request to go overseas,'' Mr Kriangkrai said. Thaksin's lawyer, Kamnuan Chalopathum, said he was not aware of the cancellation of their return flight to Thailand.

http://www.bangkokpost.net/110808_News/11Aug2008_news03.php

The thirty day period of grace for the verdict reading, which will remain sealed until then, allows room for negotiations if anyone wants to go that route.

I also rememeber the son of Chalerm going into self imposed exile as he was deemed certain to go down. He later when anger had died down returned quietly, got off and is now effectively completely rehabilitated. I wouldnt count anyone out for ever in Thailand and especially someone as powerful as Thaksin.

[Tony Clifton]

Faithful to his old habits, he's about to go on a spin campaign with rumours of, yet again, an assassination attempt and persecution from the justice system even while his own government is in power.

[Samuian]

Pracha says Thaksin made right decision not to return

BANGKOK: -- People Power Party MP Pracha Prasopdee said Monday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a right decision not to return to Thailand.

Pracha said Thaksin respected the judicial system but he definitely had certain reasons to decide against returning to the country.

"He has his rights, freedom and honour to protect. We should wait for him to explain his reasons," Pracha said.

-- The Nation 2008-08-11

He has given up on his honor for gains sake a long time ago!

And has, with this last act, signed and sealed it!

[Jai Dee]

Mr Chusak says ex-PM’s decision to stay abroad may be good for PPP

Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister Chusak Sirinil says he does not know whether former premier Thaksin Shinawatra will return to the country to defend himself in court, adding that the People Power party (PPP) may become more unified should Dr Thaksin not return home.

Mr Chusak says he cannot contact people close to the ex-premier to ask whether he will travel back to fight his cases. He also says Mr Thaksin’s request for asylum is a matter of international laws. As for speculations that PPP may face political problems if Mr Thaksin does not return, the minister says the ex-premier’s decision to stay abroad may, on the other hand, strengthen the party.

Mr Chusak states further that the party will be submitting documents to explain its dissolution charge to the Election Commission (EC) on August 13th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2008

[Tony Clifton]

Ah, now they're distancing the PPP party and blaming Thaksin for the division amongst HIS own party.

Try and figure out if some opportunists are ready to fill gaps or is just a theater play as usual.

[PhilHarries]

Yes, a very Thai solution to an irritating problem.

But let's not rule out a future rewrite of the constitution and/or rejig of the judiciary leading to a re-examination of the case(s) with new evidence pointing to a vendetta against him. Any verdicts will then be overturned and he will be a free man able to return, the veritable prodigal son, to reclaim all his assets plus interest of course.

Never say never particularly when considering Thai politics.

[george]

Thaksin delays his announcement - source

BANGKOK: -- Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra who fled to London has delayed his annoucement on his decision not to return home, pending the court's decision in the morning.

Thaksin and his wife; Khunying Pojaman, were scheduled to return to Bangkok from Beijing to testify on a trial against them over the purchase of a Rachadapisek plot of land Monday morning.

A People Power Party MP said Sunday that Thaksin will issue a statement about his decision at 9am Monday.

-- The Nation 2008-08-11

[tigerbeer]

Pracha says Thaksin made right decision not to return

BANGKOK: -- People Power Party MP Pracha Prasopdee said Monday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a right decision not to return to Thailand.

Pracha said Thaksin respected the judicial system but he definitely had certain reasons to decide against returning to the country.

"He has his rights, freedom and honour to protect. We should wait for him to explain his reasons," Pracha said.

-- The Nation 2008-08-11

honour my ass !

[Bangyai]

Oh yes, you want to take your girlfriend on holiday to England to visit your parents...Spanish Inquisition revisited. A couple of billionairs on the lamb arriving at Heathrow , no worries mate ! Maybe they used the old ploy of dressing as cleaners and 'swept ' past immigration, Taksin with a dog end of a roll up stuck to his upper lip and Ms Taksin with a knotted hanky or Ena Sharples hairnet on her bonce. Its the same old story on both sides of the globe..... money talks, sticky bovine brown stuff walks.

[sriracha john]

I'll defer to the psychologists to indicate just what this Associated Press Freudian Slip means...

In this July 31, 2008 file photo, ousted Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, front, and his wife Pojaman arrive at criminal court for a verdict in Bangkok, Thailand. Thaksin and his wife have failed to report before a high court, sparking speculation they are seeking political asylum in Britain.

Associated Press

[george]

Chamlong says PAD to continue protests despite Thaksin's no return

BANGKOK: -- Chamlong Srimuang, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said Monday that he expected that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would not return to the country.

But he said the PAD would continue its protests against the government although Thaksin and his family might seek asylum in England.

-- The Nation 2008-08-11

[sriracha john]

the former prime minister would be making a statement 'via the foreign media' at 2am tomorrow from London.

Thaksin, the trend-setting innovator... 2 am press conferences....

Thaksin delays his announcement - source

BANGKOK: -- Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra who fled to London has delayed his annoucement on his decision not to return home

oh well, so much for innovative approaches...

[PoorSucker]

I can't believe that the UK would ever grant them any sort of asylum.

If they do.

Will Thailand close the embassy/consulates in GB?

[george]

Ousted Thai leader on the run

Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has skipped bail and will not return home again to face corruption charges, it was claimed last night.

The owner of Manchester City FC had been due to return yesterday from the Olympic Games opening ceremony, but a pro-Thaksin MP suggested the telecoms billionaire, who was removed in a 2006 coup, had flown into exile in London.

If true, Mr Shinawatra's decision to flee rather than fight a string of highly divisive corruption trials could mean the beginning of the end of the political turmoil that has dogged Thailand's government and markets for the last three years.

Mr Shinawatra and his wife, Potjaman, were due to return from Beijing yesterday, but two airline industry sources revealed the couple did not board the plane.

Minutes later, Pracha Prasobdee, a member of the pro-Thaksin party that won the post-coup election in December, told reporters at the airport: "He will not return to Thailand again".

Mr Prasobdee said he had been told by an aide that Mr Shinawatra would make a statement "via the foreign media" from London, around the same time that he and his wife were meant to report to the courts under bail granted in various cases against them.

Mr Shinawatra was removed as prime minister by the army in a 2006 military coup, on the grounds of "rampant corruption".

-- independent.ie 2008-08-11

[lazeeboy]

how will relations between uk and thailand be after this?

[ratcatcher]

I can't believe that the UK would ever grant them any sort of asylum.

If they do.

Will Thailand close the embassy/consulates in GB?

I was always under the impression that 'asylum' was granted to persons fleeing their country of residence due to fear of being killed or persecuted due to their political beliefs.

The Dalai Lama sought asylum in India and was granted such for good reason.

Thaksin has not been persecuted and his wife is a convicted criminal on the run from a prison sentence.

Surely any granting of 'asylum' to the Shinawatras would make the U.K. as guilty as Saudi Arabia was when it granted asylum to Idi Amin.

[george]

Deposed Thai PM may seek asylum

BANGKOK: -- Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife failed to appear before a high court Monday amid reports they are seeking political asylum in Britain.

Thai media Monday quoted several sources saying that Thaksin and his family were already in London and would issue a statement there.

A close friend of the Thaksin family, Pracha Prasobdi, said the former Thai leader would explain why he is seeking asylum. However, others close to Thaksin said it was still unclear what his plans were.

Thaksin and his wife were to appear Monday morning before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions in a case involving an allegedly unlawful purchase of real estate.

"So far the defendants have not shown up," said court secretary Rakiat Patanaphong, declining to say anything more. They have until 4:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) to report, before the court demands an explanation from their lawyer and could eventually issue an arrest warrant.

Thaksin and his wife face several court cases related to alleged abuse of power and corruption during his five years in power. He was deposed in a military coup in 2006.

Two weeks ago, Thaksin's wife Pojaman was sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion. She was freed on bail after appealing the verdict.

The couple left Thailand last week after the court gave them permission to attend the Olympic Games in Beijing but ordered them to report Monday.

Thaksin spent much of his time in Britain after being toppled and before returning to Thailand earlier this year to face court actions against him. He owns several properties in England as well as the Manchester City football club.

The couple have been charged with abuse of authority and corruption in Pojaman's 2003 purchase of a valuable plot of land in Bangkok from a state agency. The court earlier said it would deliver a verdict Sept. 16.

Thaksin is embroiled in three other court cases as well as a slew of investigations that may lead to trials. He has maintained his innocence in all of them.

Thaksin was widely regarded as an authoritarian figure who eroded Thailand's still-fragile democratic institutions. Mass street protests led to his downfall.

But he was popular with the country's rural masses and urban poor with his populist policies.

-- IHT 2008-08-11

[Jai Dee]

Exile rumours swirl around former Thai PM Thaksin

Speculation about a possible return to exile by ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra reached fever pitch in Thailand on Monday as he and his wife failed to return from an overseas trip for a court hearing.

Lawyers for Thaksin, who remains a powerful force behind the current government, said they had no idea where their client was, after two airline industry sources told Reuters Thaksin had not boarded a plane on Sunday night from Beijing, as he had planned. "As of now, nobody in the lawyer team knows where he is," lawyer Kamnuan Chalopatham told Reuters. "We should have some progress before noon."

A pro-Thaksin MP also told reporters at the airport on Sunday night that Thaksin, who faces a slew of corruption cases lodged since his removal in a 2006 coup, was not coming home, and suggested he had flown to London.

If true, Thaksin's decision to flee rather than fight the potentially explosive corruption charges in court could mean the beginning of the end of the political turmoil that has dogged Thailand's government and markets for the past three years.

The stock market rose nearly 3 percent in early trade amid hopes Thaksin's removal from the political scene would lower the chances of street clashes, or worse, between his supporters and opponents.

The baht was relatively untouched by the speculation, trading at 33.71/74 against the dollar.

Britain's Home Office (Interior Ministry) declined to comment on the rumours that Thaksin might be travelling to London, or seeking asylum.

The telecoms billionaire owns UK football club Manchester City and has a property in a swish London district. At least one of his adult children is studying in London.

After his removal by the army in 2006, mainly on the pretext of "rampant corruption", Thaksin spent much of his time in the British capital, as well as Hong Kong and Beijing.

Thailand's post-coup government looked into trying to extradite Thaksin under a bilateral criminal treaty signed with the U.K. in 1911, but never lodged a formal request.

The treaty, signed while Thailand was called Siam and ruled by an absolute monarchy, still applies today, although Thaksin would be likely to argue that he was a victim of a political witch-hunt.

Kamnuan said Thaksin and his wife Potjaman, who was sentenced to three years in jail last month for tax fraud, had until 0930 GMT to report to the Supreme Court. He also said Thaksin's legal team was working on a statement to the court.

Source: Updated report from Reuters - 11 August 2008

[grantbkk]

Like everything Thai there is usually a back story. The deals have been make and the posturing will continue for a while and these cases will remain in a box until they are needed again. The last government sent 13 or 14 lawyers to the UK to see about getting the ex-PM back and as far as I know they are still there doing who knows what. Rather than speculate on Thaksin's return or his "extradition" couldn't someone set up a legal gambling pool on the Internet?

Did anyone not see this coming last week? TIT

[Journalist]

A bilateral extradition treaty exists between Thailand and UK

[cocopops]

For crying out loud people, *of course* the UK will grant political asylum. Whatever else he may or may not have done, the man was a democratically elected prime minister ousted by military coup whose family is being dragged through the courts on complicated finance-related charges.

If that doesn't qualify you for political asylum, exactly what is the point of the institution?

[tracer]

Well I may be wrong, and if so I'll apologise, but I got told whilst out this evening by someone who is usually accurate that they had left China and flown to the UK, [possibly whilst their legal team was claiming their return schedule had been finalised.

Regards

More lies and deceit from the Thaksin camp.

The Thaksins departure from Thailand has got to be good news.

Hopefully political tensions will be considerably eased once it's realised they have finally gone.

And Thaksin can now kiss goodbye to ALL of those frozen assets of his.

And Samak will heave a sigh of relief tonight!

They can still return on time, all it needs is the righ plane..

I would recommend waiting till monday and anyway most of his assets in Thailand are in land, companies etc etc.

Anyone appointed to sort that out gets a job for life....

[Pundi64]

I can't believe that the UK would ever grant them any sort of asylum.

If they do.

Will Thailand close the embassy/consulates in GB?

I was always under the impression that 'asylum' was granted to persons fleeing their country of residence due to fear of being killed or persecuted due to their political beliefs.

The Dalai Lama sought asylum in India and was granted such for good reason.

Thaksin has not been persecuted and his wife is a convicted criminal on the run from a prison sentence.

Surely any granting of 'asylum' to the Shinawatras would make the U.K. as guilty as Saudi Arabia was when it granted asylum to Idi Amin.

So money talks louder then ever with this last BS stunt, how could he and his wife leave Thailand in the first place?

He has made his motives clear, Thailand is no longer his country or home.

What the person has written above is correct, fleeing and asking for asylum, usually is due to some government party in the country fled, is trying to kill him, maybe this now should be the plan if he ever thinks of returning, just put the +hairs on his forehead if he tries, to re-enter Thailand and play more BS games, this would put a final note on both their epitaphs once and for all.

GOOD RIDDANCE !!!!!!

[thaibkk]

anyone surprised or shocked by this ?

this is the land of LOL or was it LOS

if you are Thai and you got money, you buy your way out of everything

why were they not in jail as they would have done with ordinary criminals ?

they stole billions of baht, did they not ?

5 / 10 million baht bail is what ... 1 day / week income of the rent they get of that stolen money ?

yes... start your crackdown on foreigners ... yes, they can never own land or a house ...

what nice of us farangs to pump money is this 3rd world country

[selftaopath]

As expected by most, neither showed up for their flight today. Spineless twits they be.

Ousted PM and wife fail to board flight to Bangkok

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife; Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra did not board a Thai International Airway flight from Beijing to return to Bangkok as earlier scheduled.

A THAI official said that the couple did not show up to board TG 615 flight which left Bejing at 5.35pm. The flight is scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 9.45pm.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30080231

I find their, and some have spelled their names Toxic and Pajama Shittywaters, behavior a spectacular example of cowardice. When they were “all powerful” did they appear to display hubris (excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance)? I think they did.

Now how are their actions? Do they mimic the hard working, honest, Spiritual minded Thai people?

LOL. I think NOT, but show the world they are typical bullies and COWARDS.

And how about so many others party members? I love the adage: We surround ourselves with reflections of our own identities.