Uk Cancel Thaksin's Visa And Wife's

[topsecret]

It was on the BBC today

ASTV: British Embassy Revokes Thaksin's Visa

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul announces on PAD stage that the U.K. embassy has revoked the visas of both Thaksin and Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra.

The PAD leader cited a Manager newspaper's report that the embassy has revoked both fugitives' visas. The order reportedly takes effect today.

TOC / 2008-11-08

Interesting that PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul knows more than the BBC and even the UK's Home office - Press Office.

And, isn't ASTV/ and "a Manager newspaper" related to Sondhi ?

LaoPo

[MKAsok]

Who's to say he didnt know? It's pretty certain he knew about the coup and left the country well prepared. Who's to say he didnt know that this decision was coming and left in advance of it to avoid the embarrassment of having to be escorted to the airport.

It's possible I guess, but I think if the UK threatened to deport him while he was in the country (bear in mind they would have to deport him to his home country), his lawyers would have immediately filed an application for asylum.

[mobiryder]

because the UK revoked his visa does not mean even in the slightest that Thaksin's coming back to face the music. Get a grip people.

[EmptyMind]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7717199.stm

Seems True Then

[Mosha]

There is something on TNN. My wife is saying that they are reporting that the British are angry over the events in Bangkok last week, when Thaksin addressed his followers in that phonecall.

[mobiryder]

ASYLUM SETBACK

UK cancels visas of Thaksin, wife

The British Embassy has revoked entry visas of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman.

The cancellation, which was decided while the couple were outside England, has been notified to airlines yesterday.

The decision was made by the United Kingdom Border Agency, and the notification email was signed by Bangkok-based Immigration Liaison Manager Andy Gray.

The email read:

"Dear All,

The United Kingdom Border Agency has revoked the UK visas held by the following Thai nations:

Thaksin Shinawatra. Thai Passport Number D215863

Potjaman Shinawatra. Thai Passport Number D206635

The UK visas contained in the passports of the individuals listed above are no longer valid for travel.

Airlines are advised not to carry these passengers to the UK"

*** end *****

The embassy would not comment on the report. Contacted embassy officials said they "cannot comment on policy matters."

It was a big political blow for Thaksin, who was believed to be on his way from China to the Philippines yesterday. It was understood that the cancellation had to do with the recent court rulings that found Pojaman guilty of tax evasion and Thaksin guilty of breaking the conflict of interest law in the Ratchadapisek land purchase scandal.

Their children's British visas are still valid.

A senior People Power Party politician who has been in China this week answered The Nation's phone contact but replied to the inquiry about Thaksin's visa situation with only "I don't know. I don't know."

Thaksin has always described England as a "democratically mature" country as compared to Thailand. But he always denied having applied for asylum although he said England would be the country where he wanted to live in exile.

Last Saturday, in a controversial long-distance phone-in from Hong Kong, Thaksin accused his political opponents of breaking his family apart. In the same address, he also begged for royal pardon or a popular show of force to bring him back to Thailand.

"Nobody can bring me back to Thailand, except royal kindness of HM the King or the power of the people," Thaksin said. He also claimed that many countries have offered him "honorary citizenship", "which made me a bit sad because I could do many things for anybody else in the world, but nothing now for my country."

The statement triggered a major controversy in Thailand, with Thaksin being accused of trying to drag HM the King into politics. The UK visa move, however, gave Thaksin's statement a whole new perspective, making him sound more like someone desperate to find refuge rather than trying to provoke a political reaction.

It is not immediately known, however, whether Thaksin was aware of the impending visa cancellation before he left England the last time.

A source familiar with the UK legal and diplomatic thinking said the cancellation could have been based on "the different statuses" of Thaksin between the time he was issued the visa and now.

The Supreme Court only found Thaksin guilty in the Ratchadapisek land case late last month, weeks after he fled Thailand during the Beijing Olympics. He fled with his wife, who only days earlier had been found guilty of tax evasion.

England has been under the world community's watchful eyes when Thaksin is concerned. Diplomatic observers have said a decision whether or not to give Thaksin asylum would generate strong ramifications on England's relations with Thailand, as well as London's reputations when democracy, foreign relations and legal principles are concerned.

-- The Nation 2008-11-08

That is sweet. Hopefully he gets what he deserves. Now he's a man without a country. Lot's of money, but nowhere to live. I love it. Hopefully he'll come back someday soon and face the music.

nowhere to live? he's got billions.. you don't think there's 100 countries waiting to take him? last resort i KNOW you can buy citizenship from some small countries for a few hundred k.. but surely there's plenty of real countries that'd take him.

[Jingthing]

It is true, but what next? Maybe PAD should hire the Israelis to poach him from wherever he ends up and fly him back to justice? In any case, I don't think there is good Thai food available in Bolivia, or most of the lovely countries on his short list. I don't think any "top tier" countries will take him now but the Bahamas, that ain't bad at all.

Edited November 8, 2008 by Jingthing

[sangfroid]

Overheard at a Thaksin party in Kensington

All together now.............

Maybe its becoz Oim a Laaaaandaaaaaner, an Oi laaaaaaaave Laaaaandaaaaaan taaaaaan!!

[harsh4]

Well if this is real - then the UK is very smart to want get involved in a bunch of messy Thai politics. They probably had enough when he started using UK as his staging ground (phone in) for his personal propaganda - which didnt really match up with the asylum card he was trying to play

if it is a hoax then this is some good piece of magic someone pulled.

It is NOT a hoax...check out

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7717199.stm

[Considered Opinion]

Very odd The Nation publish this without double checking the ''news''.

LaoPo

You re joking of course. I don't remember the last time The Nation got a second opinion.

[john b good]

If it is correct (as reported) it must be amongst the best news that has come out in recent times

[grandpops]

There is something on TNN. My wife is saying that they are reporting that the British are angry over the events in Bangkok last week, when Thaksin addressed his followers in that phonecall.

Believe me, the British are never angry about criminals, terrorists or bent politicians living in the UK. He probably did something really evil like address some Ms in the passport office as Miss or even worse.. Mrs!

But, what if he did come back? The police wouldn't arrest him as he is one of theirs and most of the population of Thailand that resides outside of Bangkok, would be there to protect him.

Then see what use a yellow happy clapper is against my mother in law and her mates.

It's not as simple as some seem to think. For the sake of the high season, I wish it was.

Edited November 8, 2008 by grandpops

[jdinasia]

There is something on TNN. My wife is saying that they are reporting that the British are angry over the events in Bangkok last week, when Thaksin addressed his followers in that phonecall.

Believe me, the British are never angry about criminals, terrorists or bent politicians living in the UK. He probably did something really evil like address some Ms in the passport office as Miss or even worse.. Mrs!

But, what if he did come back? The police wouldn't arrest him as he is one of theirs and most of the population of Thailand that resides outside of Bangkok, would be there to protect him.

Then see what use a yellow happy clapper is against my mother in law and her mates.

It's not as simple as some seem to think. For the sake of the high season, I wish it was.

1) If Thaksin landed at Suwannapoom he'd be detained and arrested on the spot

2) I guess he could try and live in the middle of nowhere in Isaan if he got someone to smuggle him across the border (or a slum in Chalong --- but not even a guesthouse in Pattaya .. and certainly not in the South. He certainly would be housebound until he got the courts to grant an appeal or something, alas that ship has sailed .....

3) The UK and Thailand have normal diplomatic relations, it makes sense for them to cancel his visa. It appears to have been cancelled from Thailand. Perhaps someone at the UK Embassy didn't like the idea of the PAD marching on them again because they were providing refuge for a convicted felon!

[karlski]

It's real. His access has been cut.

It's being carried on all major TV stations.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../i233836S96.DTL

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews...1108-99192.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7717199.stm

[jamesjdaly]

...But, what if he did come back?....

That's a very good point! What would actually happen if he came back within the 10 years? Would he go to prison? No way. I really think not a lot will happen in regards to his incarceration.

Mind you, it would tear the country apart.

Edited November 8, 2008 by jamesjdaly

[pete600]

ASTV: British Embassy Revokes Thaksin's Visa

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul announces on PAD stage that the U.K. embassy has revoked the visas of both Thaksin and Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra.

The PAD leader cited a Manager newspaper's report that the embassy has revoked both fugitives' visas. The order reportedly takes effect today.

TOC / 2008-11-08

Interesting that PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul knows more than the BBC and even the UK's Home office - Press Office.

And, isn't ASTV/ and "a Manager newspaper" related to Sondhi ?

LaoPo

Its on the BBC web site now [ulr]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7717199.stm[ulr]

[jitagon]

The BBC are reporting that the visa was revoked by the British Foreign Office.

The BBC seemed to be saying that his visa was issued on the basis of him being a business man, and now that he has sold his stake in manchester city football club (notice - lower case letters, me being a United fan) that he has no further business interests.

It would appear to me that he isnt using his diplomatic passport - as i dont think they need visas, do they?

The BBC also alluded to Thaksin having a number of 'honourary' citizenships - meaning that he may or may not be able to apply for a passport from a different country. Presumably he would of course have to comply with the Thai law of not being able to hold two different nationality's passports at the same time....................................

I have a Thai friend, a woman married to an American, who holds both a Thai and Australian passport. She told me she uses the Australian passport whenever she gets to travel abroad as she finds the immigration staff more um, co-operative.

[Tod Daniels]

Very shrewd on the part of the UK to circumvent completely the lengthy and time consuming asylum seeking process (which would have left thaksin in the country until its conclusion) by simply waiting until he'd left the country and canceling his UK visa.

No endless asylum process, no appeal, no evidence, no judgment if the thai judicial process was skewed against him. It effectively puts the UK totally off the hook now to any criticism of thailand, it's political and/or judicial process.

WAY TO GO UK...! !

[frodo]

I wonder which face thaksin will wear this time:

2001: I was acquitted, the courts are fair!

2008: I was found guilty? The courts are biased and unfair!

2008: Don't worry about me, my family and I have enough money to get by.

2008: Democracy is more important in England!

???

2008: England revoked my visa!

The master of face!

[benjamat]

What about his big house in Weybridge and flat in Knightsbridge? Did that not net him an investment visa of some sort?

Or perhaps he has been deemed to have been undertaking activities not compatible with his visa status.

Or the whole thing is PAD fabrication.

They have homes in the UK and if they are travelling with their children there is no way that any uk visa would be revoked whikle they are out of the country. The UK govt (I hope) would not act in this way.

Visas may be revoked later but then there would be opportunities for appeal.

[bravingbangkok]

UK revokes former Thai PM's visa

Former prime minister Thaksin retains support in rural areas of Thailand

The British government has revoked the visas of the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife.

An e-mail sent to airlines from the British embassy in Bangkok told them not to allow the couple to board flights to Britain.

Mr Thaksin was deposed in a military coup in 2006, and travelled to Britain.

He has since been convicted by a Thai court on corruption charges and sentenced in absentia to two years. His wife faces three years for tax evasion.

Mr Thaksin is thought to be travelling in East Asia - a week ago he made a telephone address to more than 60,000 supporters packed into a Bangkok sports stadium.

Multiple charges

For much of the past two years Mr Thaksin and his family have lived in the UK.

He has not only invested in expensive properties here but also bought Manchester City Football Club, which he sold in August.

Following the withdrawal of their visas Mr Thaksin and his wife will now be forced to find a new home.

The cases against Thaksin include corruption charges related to the purchase of state land by his wife, abuses of power over government money, concealing assets and tax evasion. The former leader retains a lot of support in rural areas of Thailand, but also has many detractors who would like nothing more than to see him in jail.

BBC

[hammered]

The UK has never minded giving a home to all kinds of oddballs, lunatics and worse. However, they are meant to keep a relatively low profile and not embarrass the country. There are all kinds of technical ways to invalidate a visa if the user of it becomes too much of an embarrassment.

There may also be something to if applying for asylum you shouldnt be travelling the world but sitting in the host country. Travelling aroubnd and making speeches would certainly embarrass the UK government while the person in question claimed to be making an asylum appeal and this was actually confirmed.

I would honestly guess that they just got fed up with his games and found the easiest way to technically cancel the visa while he wasnt in the country. All airlines have been informed apparently, nice manouver at removing a headache.

Seems the diplomatic passport dont work no more too if he needed a visa.

No doubt if Mr. T returns to power all Brits will now be in visa trouble out here

[jdinasia]

What about his big house in Weybridge and flat in Knightsbridge? Did that not net him an investment visa of some sort?

Or perhaps he has been deemed to have been undertaking activities not compatible with his visa status.

Or the whole thing is PAD fabrication.

They have homes in the UK and if they are travelling with their children there is no way that any uk visa would be revoked whikle they are out of the country. The UK govt (I hope) would not act in this way.

Visas may be revoked later but then there would be opportunities for appeal.

The children are adults .. and their visas are not a problem

Thakky and his wife however, no longer have a reason for the visa they were issued and have both been convicted of crimes and sentenced to jail since the old visas were issued.

[MKAsok]

They have homes in the UK and if they are travelling with their children there is no way that any uk visa would be revoked whikle they are out of the country. The UK govt (I hope) would not act in this way.

Visas may be revoked later but then there would be opportunities for appeal.

Apparently the kids' visas have not been revoked. The UK is perfectly within its rights to revoke the visas of convicted criminals whether they're in the country or not.

[jitagon]

There is something on TNN. My wife is saying that they are reporting that the British are angry over the events in Bangkok last week, when Thaksin addressed his followers in that phonecall.

It's Leopards and Spots. It was his arrogance and sheer hubris turned people off him in Thailand, and that 'phone call just shows he will never ever learn.

I must say though, if I were him, I'd come back to Thailand. After all, what're the chances he'd be lead off to the local monkey house? seriously?

[markg]

They have homes in the UK and if they are travelling with their children there is no way that any uk visa would be revoked whikle they are out of the country. The UK govt (I hope) would not act in this way.

Visas may be revoked later but then there would be opportunities for appeal.

Dont be daft, lad. Any government can revoke any visa at any time it wants.

I'd be pretty sure that Thaksins legal team would have been given advance notice, which is why he is out of the country when the decision was made public.

The Brits quite rightly dont want to have to deal with the problem.

[benjamat]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7717199.stm

Seems True Then

Yes its official now, on the BBC.

I feel very uneasy about this. Irrespective of the personal situation with thaksin, revoking someones visa when their home is in the country seems a very cowboy, third world response to me. In addition they have not revoked childrens visas, so just break up the family. None of us know the whole truth about what has happened in thailand and its certainly true that millions of poor ordinary people support him.

Anyway, I suppose just a further slide into mediocrity and deterioration in moral fibre, what more to expect from this corrupt and morally bankrupt UK government. Just remenber, it couild be you next time.

[AussieFarang]

This could be a new concept for any Thai readers.

FYI its called fair and equal treatment of all people under the rule of law.

If you start now here in Thailand maybe in 20 no 50 years ???????????????

[jamesjdaly]

.....corrupt and morally bankrupt UK government....

Compared to any Thai government, it's squeaky clean!! I take back all I said about the UK govt when they caught me doing the double and having a window cleaning round on weekends and was never prosecuted!

Edited November 8, 2008 by jamesjdaly

[jdinasia]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7717199.stm

Seems True Then

Yes its official now, on the BBC.

I feel very uneasy about this. Irrespective of the personal situation with thaksin, revoking someones visa when their home is in the country seems a very cowboy, third world response to me. In addition they have not revoked childrens visas, so just break up the family. None of us know the whole truth about what has happened in thailand and its certainly true that millions of poor ordinary people support him.

Anyway, I suppose just a further slide into mediocrity and deterioration in moral fibre, what more to expect from this corrupt and morally bankrupt UK government. Just remenber, it couild be you next time.

What are you talking about? deterioration of moral fibre? Revoking the business visa of someone not conducting business and has been convicted of major crimes since the visa was issued? It would have shown a deterioration IF they had kept him.

Splitting up families? ALL the visas in question were other than immigrant visas ... and the kids are ADULTS .. and they all have the cash to live anywhere that will have them (Hopefully Thakky and hi wife will live in a jail in Thailand!)