Uk Cancel Thaksin's Visa And Wife's

[baht&sold]

Leaves the unanswered question. What's he gonna do now?

Prob return HK for now to stage a final push (reasoning below)

First, from a purely diplomatic standpoint, it probably didn't help that Mr Thaksin was playing the 'victim' card to the UK and simultaneously whipping up a frenzy of red-shirts using state media and 'The Truth Today' back home... Also, the UK Ambassador was none too pleased the Govt announced plans to curb expansion of super-stores like Tesco last week...

The Bahamas (and some banana/cocaine republics) would likely welcome the Thaksins but one doubts the time-zone would be suitable for day to day 'operations'. Thus, Hong Kong or the Philippines (or even Cambodia) seem more likely as temporary strategic HQ's for a final push which is surely coming. Probably HK for ease of multiple and close flight connections.

Speaking of Thaksin 'operations', the Govt is predictably 'hel_l-bent' on pushing through self-serving constitution changes by Nov 20th. This is practically guaranteed to spark another bloody confrontation (and perhaps a larger civil conflict). To avoid a bloody conflict the Govt should simply call elections of course - but they won't/can't until they manage to eliminate vote-fraud clauses from the 2007 constitution (at the very least).

Other 'operations' underfoot have the 111 banned TRT execs planning to have their PPP bretheren introduce draft legislation to un-ban them...

Not surprisingly, PPP MP's are absolutely thrilled conflict of interest laws were axed on Friday (due to a technicality). Commenting on the removal of conflict of interest laws one PPP MP said tellingly: "Without the law, there will be no trivial rules"...

Thaksin is reportedly currently in the Philippines having a pow-wow with Northeast PPP MP's. This may have to do with the continuation of the 'Thaksin Show' (otherwise known as 'The Truth Today') with the 'sold out' tour next heading to key Northeast cities, signalling an election is indeed coming (which will only be announced immediately after the constitution is suitably changed). Preference is probably to have this all achieved before Dec 5th...

Meanwhile, former Army chief Chaiyasit Shinawatra is calling on the Army to kick some PAD butt, saying that 'the nation has suffered enough'. It's certain the nation has indeed suffered more than enough but as long as the self-proclaimed 'victim' (Thaksin) feels HIS suffering (and interests/revenge) are worth MORE than a nation, then the nation will likely continue to suffer even more, quite possibly much more...

[rayw]

He is a wanted, convicted criminal in Thailand. If its OK for Thaksin to be above the law of his country, I guess you favor giving the same benefit of the doubt to all convicted crims here?

I understand there are a lot of Thaksin haters posting on this forum, but what is law in Thailand is very grey. Everyone seems to have forgotten that he was ousted in a military coup 2 years ago. I suppose everyone will say in defence that a military coup is perfectly acceptable.

Yes in cases such as this of course it can be completely acceptable for sure as long as the junta do not want to take permanent dictatorial power and hand it back to the people as indeed the temporary junta did honourably and rightly here, not my opinion but fact. A coup to restore democracy has to be right and in fact normally acceptable by most western democratic states, heck even the now leaving office far from great US president seemed to think it was acceptable too in many places across the world. What other option is there when the very fabric of democracy was being threatened by the incumbent Government and its now proven corrupt and criminally convicted leader. The coup was to protect and defend this country against the serious and severe threat of Toxin and his cronies. Bombing other countries is normally totally unacceptable but in some cases it is unavoidable and regrettably acceptable in the interests of a secure and better future, it all depends on whether the motives are morally right and indeed they sometimes are not, here with the coup from all I saw and the way it was conducted I think it was morally correct and cleverly carried out and very much to maximise the avoidance of bloodshed too.

So take the blinkers off tropo and look at the bigger picture, you cannot just look at it so simplistically as saying a coup is always wrong.

[DefaultName]

This took it's time coming, IMO the time was when he was convicted and sentenced in Thailand - but at least it's done now.

If he'd stolen thousands we'd have revoked his visa immediately, that we delayed when it was billions I'm not proud of. The scale should not matter, only that he was a criminal.

We have enough criminals in the UK, petty to major, without allowing more in.

[bapak]

An aside... Does the Thai Government still provide Thaksin with a bodyguard? ... from memory it was a senior police officer.

[wrestler7902002]

Thaksin is a wanted, convicted criminal in Thailand.

Thaksin's visa to the UK has been revoked.

Where does Thaksin go now? In what country would he feel most comfortable living? What country would benefit the most from his arrival there?

Where could Thaksin go to rebuilt his financial empire?

Hmmmm.......Cambodia seems likely. Casinos, land development...............maybe the next Prime Minister of Cambodia.

If he is pardoned for his crimes in Thailand and/or the political atmosphere changes in his favor, Thaksin would be able rent a taxi from Phenom Penh and head for Poipet; he would then cross the border and hire a tuk-tuk to take him to Aranyapretet in order to catch the government bus to Bangkok. However, I doubt there would be enough room for the 63 suitcases full of shirts, underwear, and socks that he originally took on his trip to the UK.

Piece of cake!

[ThaiPauly]

I wouldnt want this to happen to my thai wife.

Well it won't if she is not a convicted criminal

The UK have done the right thing whatever way you look at it, and although we don't know the actual reason, you don't have to be a genius to work it out.

It's not because he has no further business interests in the UK...otherwise whhy did they also revoke his Wife's visa and not his childrens.?

Its pure and simple...he is a convicted fellon who is NOT WANTED in the UK

[Swanky]

Well at least they can't send back convicts to Australia anymore.

[dumball]

Leaves the unanswered question. What's he gonna do now?

"Bad boy , bad boy , what ya gonna do when they come for you "

"Go sailing down the river on a sunday afternoon ,

The sun above the one i love , waiting for the moon , "

[tracer5050]

Thanks for the info, As usal good to get the Info fast,

[Swanky]

Maybe he will have a convenient fall from a balcony somewhere.

[Hermano Lobo]

Still sounds a bit fishy. Enoch Powell called the Foreign Office a "Nest of Vipers" after they tried to stitch up Lady Thatcher over

the Falklands.

Is it a Spoof Thai style. It could be. Maybe it has something to do with the British selling off most of the land around the Embassy in Bangkok.

Kick back time.

The timing is suspicious. Just after the 70,000 rally for Thaksin in Bangkok and now Sonthi's Birthday.

The Nation has been playing the propaganda arm of PAD for a while now and they were the first to break the news.

Perhaps The Nation should change its name to 'Das Bild' and have a page three beauty with big tits?

Extradition ?

"If it appears the request to extradite is in order to punish him for political opinions, extradition is barred." - Clive Nicholls QC

Extradition lawyer

Links:-

UK revokes former Thai PM's visa

Will Thaksin be extradited?

Edited November 8, 2008 by Hermano Lobo

[jackspratt]

He could always go to Australia. He was there not so long back.

No he couldn't.

The last time he was there was under a different government, and before he was a convicted criminal.

[griser]

Taksin finally opened his big mouth too many times. The British goverment can't overlook an escaped felon who is meddling in the affairs of another nation.

I'm sure that last phone call to his supporters is what did it...

That man has serious meglomania issues.

Greg

[inthepink]

Its true its been on the bbc news even here in nThailand! That will make the thais sit up and take notice if we have kicked him out! A little bit of education for the masses here in my books....about time too

What on earth is that supposed to mean?

[WitawatWatawit]

Yesterday it was Sonthi's 62 birthday too, so he wasn't sure if the message was a hoax!

What a nice present for him.

Sonthi said he realised he may well go to jail for the charges he faces but he said he'll do the time, no running away, and won't ask for a pardon either.

Seems like YH doesn't know the British establishment as well as he thought!

"No running away ..." -- ????? This is the Robert Maxwell of Thailand you're talking about here. Of course he'll run. He did it once before when the Asia Times folded and his Manager empire was in tatters. He was discovered holing up in Singapore and enjoying a life of luxury WHILE his minions were out of pocket from unpaid salaries and provident fund money (although he did make some effort to pay some of it back later, but not everyone got what they were entitled to, as I'm lead to believe). Sonthi belongs to that group of "Thai elites" who don't believe they should be jailed for their indiscretions, not matter how bad they are. How can anyone believe this garbage from people like Sonthi!!!

[Swanky]

He could always go to Australia. He was there not so long back.

No he couldn't.

The last time he was there was under a different government, and before he was a convicted criminal.

He has business and property interests there. Rudd may take him thousands wouldn't.

[personchester]

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

The report is rather dodgy, lets await further news before commenting on it.

[Jingthing]

The report is rather dodgy, lets await further news before commenting on it.

Is that your idea of irony?

[jackspratt]

He could always go to Australia. He was there not so long back.

No he couldn't.

The last time he was there was under a different government, and before he was a convicted criminal.

He has business and property interests there. Rudd may take him thousands wouldn't.

So is that a comment on Rudd, or your "understanding" of current visa policy in Australia? Please show your cards.

He owns property in Australia, which does not entitle him to a visa. As a "businessman" he may be more successful, but I am sure that would be overidden by the fact that he is a convicted criminal in a country with which Australia has close diplomatic and economic ties.

As far as I am aware, Australia has no history of (knowingly) harbouring villains from other countries.

[baht&sold]

Foreign Ministry has been informed about Thaksin's revoked visa

source: The Nation/breaking news Nov 8 2008

The British government has informed Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the cancellation of visas of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman, according to MOF.

Thanee Thongpakdee, deputy spokesman of the ministry, said the the ministry has been informed about the revoked entry visas.

The confirmation of the Thai side ends the doubt that the report could have been just a rumour.

*****************

Thaksin buys house in China: source

source: The Nation/breaking news Nov 8 2008

A source from the People Power Party said Saturday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has bought a house worth Bt300 million in China.

The source said Thaksin was now in China to see the construction of his house near the Pine Valley Golf Course in Beijing.

****************

-BTW, Lost in the plot in all this by many imho, is all hel_l is set to break loose again as Thaksin has his proxies ram through a self-serving constitution before Nov 20...

If 'successful', expect the Govt to announce an election, probably before Dec 5th...

EDIT/sp

Edited November 8, 2008 by baht&sold

[jdinasia]

Hmmm the Chinese Gov't deals rather harshly with corruption

[Jingthing]

China? That's interesting. Didn't his troubles really start when he sold off Thai assets to Singapore (controlled by Chinese ethnicity people)? Doesn't this weaken Thaksin's political credibility in Thailand even more as he can be perceived as having Chinese loyalties over Thai loyalties?

[inthepink]

As far as I am aware, Australia has no history of (knowingly) harbouring villains from other countries.

Apart from those from England of course.

[JacknDanny]

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.

You are talking total <deleted>.

I suggest you read up on British Immigration and Visa regulations before making such hysterical and inaccurate statements

[jackspratt]

As far as I am aware, Australia has no history of (knowingly) harbouring villains from other countries.

Apart from those from England of course.

Regrettably, I must admit you are correct

Of course, I was speaking in more contemporary terms.

[jitagon]

Foreign Ministry has been informed about Thaksin's revoked visa

source: The Nation/breaking news Nov 8 2008

The British government has informed Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the cancellation of visas of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman, according to MOF.

Thanee Thongpakdee, deputy spokesman of the ministry, said the the ministry has been informed about the revoked entry visas.

The confirmation of the Thai side ends the doubt that the report could have been just a rumour.

*****************

Thaksin buys house in China: source

source: The Nation/breaking news Nov 8 2008

A source from the People Power Party said Saturday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has bought a house worth Bt300 million in China.

The source said Thaksin was now in China to see the construction of his house near the Pine Valley Golf Course in Beijing.

****************

-BTW, Lost in the plot in all this by many imho, is all hel_l is set to break loose again as Thaksin has his proxies ram through a self-serving constitution before Nov 20...

If 'successful', expect the Govt to announce an election, probably before Dec 5th...

EDIT/sp

Wow. Are we all now to be treated to the sight of Thais protesting outside the Chinese Embassy and calling for the boycott of Dim Sum stalls?

[sriracha john]

Well to me it sounds as authoritative as Winnie the Pooh.It's a hoax unless I'm much mistaken.

status quo, I see...

[sriracha john]

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

Wouldn't Sondhi be embarrassed if this turned out to be a hoax?

Naaaaah.

You're right, he's not.

Guess it's Thaksin and Pokemon who are embarrassed.

[sriracha john]

PAD or no PAD this is a JOKE. Coincidentally, the PAD is losing support in Bangkok and does need to provide a sense of moving forward with whatever their agenda is. Coincidentally, a PAD affiliated new organization provided this breaking news to their supporters and to the world before anyone else. The NY Times is also quoting Thai news sources and nowhere yet has it appeared in the British tabloids.

It is hard to believe that someone would put out such a historic story and expect it to be believed for a couple of days but it did happen in the recent past. This is Thailand so we can expect the celebrating in the streets to diminish soon, some organization to declare a misunderstanding in "VISA GATE" and life will go on. People are so gullible.

how's that again?

[ratcatcher]

PAD or no PAD this is a JOKE. Coincidentally, the PAD is losing support in Bangkok and does need to provide a sense of moving forward with whatever their agenda is. Coincidentally, a PAD affiliated new organization provided this breaking news to their supporters and to the world before anyone else. The NY Times is also quoting Thai news sources and nowhere yet has it appeared in the British tabloids.

It is hard to believe that someone would put out such a historic story and expect it to be believed for a couple of days but it did happen in the recent past. This is Thailand so we can expect the celebrating in the streets to diminish soon, some organization to declare a misunderstanding in "VISA GATE" and life will go on. People are so gullible.

how's that again?

People are so gullible Were you by chance referring to Tacky & Podgy?

He's been caught with his pants down again.

Left Thailand 2 years ago to go to New York. Result: Ousted by coup.

Left England recently to go to China. Result: Visa cancelled.

Life's a struggle at the top ain't it?