I Will Return To Post Of Prime Minister: Thaksin

[sriracha john]

DISCLAIMER; Khun Thaksin, should you miraculously come back to power within the next 10 years, my name is Col Pyat and I am borrowing JacknDannys computer

[sriracha john]

It must be a reflection of these tough economic times when even Thaksin is running fund raisers. What's next? Garage sales?

Thaksin's supporters gather for his speech at fund raising event

The hosts of Truth Today satellite TV programme held a fund raising dinner at a Bangkok temple Saturday evening.

They offered 1,000 tables of foods and beverage for supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to buy tickets to attend at the rate of 10,000 Baht per table.

At 4 pm, about 200 tables were still vacant.

The event was held at the Weruwanaram Temple in Don Mueng area. Thaksin was scheduled to make a phone-in address to the event later in the evening.

The Nation / 2009-02-14

[sriracha john]

It must also be a reflection of the wavering support when even Thaksin gets a 20% no-show rate from his supporters at the dinner.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin vows to fight on for justice

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed Saturday night that he will not give up, but will continue to fight for justice along side his red-shirted supporters.

He was making a phone-in address at 7:30 pm to some 20,000 supporters who gathered at fund raising dinner at Wat Phai Khiew temple in Don Mueang district. He thanked his supporters for continually fighting for him and said he would never give up until he receives justice and until real democracy returns to the country.

"I would like to thank you all for standing by me. I'll fight along your side. I will not give up as long as justice has not returned and democracy has not returned," Thaksin said.

"I don't want to look for trouble, but I am seeking for justice. Now, the situation has come to its worst. And I was the first one to become a victim so I'll seek the truth along with you."

He said he had not received fair trial in the Ratchadapisek land case against him.

"The Democrat Party urged me to return to fight in Thailand according to the justice system but I would like to ask whether I have received justice in the trial. They made my opponents as investigators in the cases against me," Thaksin said.

He added that he was persecuted because he had worked for the people "too well".

"I got a doctorate degree, but I didn't receive justice because I worked too well for the people. If they spoke to me nicely, I would understand, but they persecuted me so I could not accept it. I will not give in and I am not afraid of death," the former prime minister added.

Thaksin also ridiculed the 19 September coup makers as "guards" who had ambition and wanted to become executives. He said the coup was the worst thing because it was the robbery of the people's power.

"The CNS [Council for National Security] members were like guards who saw executives running a firm and had and urge to run the firm themselves," Thaksin said. "How could we let guards run a firm?"

He said the military also had a dictatorial version of charter enacted and had the judiciary interfere in politics and caused damages to the country.

- The Nation / 2009-02-14

Edited February 14, 2009 by sriracha john

[TAWP]

They offered 1,000 tables of foods and beverage for supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to buy tickets to attend at the rate of 10,000 Baht per table.

Atleast that makes it clear that he isn't an outsider champion of the poor with opposition from everybody with money... if anyone was still confused that is.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin: I'll rather die than lose

Fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra made a phone-in to his red-clad supporters on Saturday evening, saying he is not afraid of death and is ready to return to Thailand. At the UDD rally at Pai Keaw temple in Don Meuang, the ousted PM also criticised the government's efforts to address the local economy. He said solving the economy also requires ingenuity, but new ideas cannot flourish in a country without democracy, adding that if someone says democracy is not important, then the person has the wrong idea. The exiled ex-PM thanked people who support democracy and justice. He said if Thai people are ready for him to return and want him to work for the country. He said it would be all right if he could be assassinated upon his return, but everything must be dealt with in a justified manner. He said he has not been treated fairly since the formation of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC). If he is continually being mistreated, he would rather die than being a loser, according to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...r-die-than-lose

[JacknDanny]

Thaksin: I'll rather die than lose

If he is continually being mistreated, he would rather die than being a loser,

The people have spoken.

Edited February 14, 2009 by JacknDanny

[Sandstone Art]

It must also be a reflection of the wavering support when even Thaksin gets a 20% no-show rate from his supporters at the dinner.

If only the present govt dish out 1 million baht for each village in each tamboon!

All tables will be filled with some long reservations!

Times are bad for a 1,000 baht per head table for the reds!

ps

1,000 table x 10 pax is only 10,000 reds supporters.

Why only 8,000 reds supporters has the 1,000 baht to spare for the 'Gala dinner' ??

During each red rally, they turned out in 50 to 80,000 numbers to support dear Thaksin.

When it's time to pay, only a fraction is really 'supporting' ! But when it's time to be paid, the real numbers come into play!

[sriracha john]

Garry Cook and "great golfing partner", Thaksin Shinawatra

Maybe it's time Garry Cook found a new golf partner

So, farewell, Thaksin Shinawatra. While English football was occupied elsewhere, Manchester City were discreetly shedding their Honorary President.

It seems the former owner had become an embarrassment and his successor, Sheikh Mansour, had decided that it would be 'inappropriate' for him to continue. Thus concludes one of the more improbable episodes in the chequered history of the Premier League.

When the deposed prime minister of Thailand acquired City in June 2007, his background was subjected to rigorous scrutiny. Amnesty International spoke of extra-judicial killings, torture, arrest without trial. Human Rights Watch described him as: 'A human rights abuser of the worst kind.'

The League, in their arrogance, dismissed such inconvenient views. Sven Goran Eriksson, when offered the job of managing City, consulted the League Chairman, 'Sir' Dave Richards, who, according to Eriksson, told him Shinawatra was 'absolutely clean.'

The Premier League at large agreed that he was a 'fit and proper person' to own one of their clubs, when even the dogs in the street might have told a different story.

Since then, Shinawatra has become a fugitive. Convicted in Thailand of wholesale corruption and sentenced to two years in prison in his absence, he is currently banned from entering Britain.

Even the Premier League belatedly accept that Thaksin is a deeply unfit and wholly improper person to hold honorary office at City. He has, therefore, been cast adrift, with nothing but a £120 million profit on his investment to remind him of the good old days in east Manchester.

There remains one loose end. Garry Cook, City's executive chairman/jobbing comedian, has yet to renounce his support for the exhon-president. It was Cook, you will recall, who declared that Shinawatra was 'a great guy to play golf with.'

He added: 'Whether he's guilty of something over there (in Thailand) I can't worry too much about.'

I cannot speak for Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of course. But it may be time for our Garry to start worrying.

- Daily Mail (UK) / 2009-02-14

Edited February 15, 2009 by sriracha john

[brahmburgers]

Thaksin sues Suthep for defamation

Ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday sued Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban for defamation after Suthep accused Thaksin of wishing to become "President of Thailand." Udom Prongfah, lawyer of Thaksin, went to the Criminal Court to file the defamation suit against Mr Suthep. The court accepted the case, and has scheduled May 18 for a hearing on the case. Puea Thai Party MP Chaowarin Latthasaksiri earlier defended Thaksin, saying he only said he would return as prime minister, not as president.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...-for-defamation

So Thaksin is now perfectly happy, with the fairness of the justice-system in Thailand, and wishes to use it to muffle his critics, sense of deja-vu anybody ?

But when it is time for himself to face the courts, suddenly they are unfair and unjust, doesn't that demonstrate double-standards ?

Ever since he first heard about anti-defamation suits, he's used them as a hammer to try and shut people up. After a particularly thick flurry of such suits by Thaksin, HM the King stated publicly that such suits were not good for Thailand. Thaksin lightened up for a bit - then went right back to his intimidating ways. Thaksin won't follow up with these most recent defamation suits - as they're simply thrown about to harass people he doesn't like.

As for M.City FC and it's bosses. They should have listened to people like Amnesty Int'l (and me) and realized a long time ago that Thaksin was trouble personified. On 2nd thought, maybe MCFC bosses realized back then that Thaksin was a sleazoid, but simply figured anyone dumb enough to throw millions of pounds at the club was Ok with them.

[hammered]

Hear the reds are planning a surround GH manouver on Feb 24. Looks like all was peaceful upin Udon for the yellow parade. I hear they plan on going to Chaing Mai and Chaing Rai next. Chiang Mai should be interesting where on Friday three breakaway red groupsholding a meeting came under assault by the Love Chiang Mai 51 group (connected to violence and murder). If they hate fellow reds enough to want to beat the hel_l out of them then wonder what apoplyctic levels they will go to when the yellows approach.

Thaksin's speeches are getting a bit boring and repetative I guess that is the problem when they need to use him as an attraction all the time as they have nothing else (guess Giles is out of the equation. Wonder if they have a line on that yet), his mystique and value become increasingly diminished with each use.

Interestingly the tactic the reds in Udon have been using to discredit the yellows is disloyalty to the institution. Kinda flies in the face of the Bangkok based ideologue red theoretical framework. Once people realise it isnt true, if that happens, there may be more chance for reconcilliation. Politicization of things that shouldnt be politicized is a nasty game used by many actors.

[Ricardo]

Thaksin also ridiculed the 19 September coup makers as "guards" who had ambition and wanted to become executives. He said the coup was the worst thing because it was the robbery of the people's power.

"The CNS [Council for National Security] members were like guards who saw executives running a firm and had and urge to run the firm themselves," Thaksin said. "How could we let guards run a firm?"

- The Nation / 2009-02-14

Back to the old Thailand is-a-company image.

With himself as Chief-Executive-for-Life !

When will Thaksin realise, the Board have replaced him as CEO, and the company has moved on ?

[Sandstone Art]

Thaksin also ridiculed the 19 September coup makers as "guards" who had ambition and wanted to become executives. He said the coup was the worst thing because it was the robbery of the people's power.

"The CNS [Council for National Security] members were like guards who saw executives running a firm and had and urge to run the firm themselves," Thaksin said. "How could we let guards run a firm?"

- The Nation / 2009-02-14

Back to the old Thailand is-a-company image.

With himself as Chief-Executive-for-Life !

When will Thaksin realise, the Board have replaced him as CEO, and the company has moved on ?

You are so kind with your words!

To me, it seems like the Board has sacked him and also throw him in jail too!

[sriracha john]

'I want to commend you on your love for democracy. Today is the day of love,' Thaksin told a Saturday evening rally.

Associated Press

Thaksin's Valentine's-Day call

BANGKOK - FUGITIVE ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Valentine's Day phone call broadcast to supporters from a mystery location, vowing to return one day to Thailand.

'I want to commend you on your love for democracy. Today is the day of love,' Thaksin told a Saturday evening rally of thousands of supporters still angry over the 2006 coup that ousted him.

His 20-minute telephone call had more invective than sweet talk. The former telecoms tycoon repeated claims that he was politically persecuted and cannot return home because he feels the courts are biased. 'Democracy has been eroded by the military and the court,' he said.

Thaksin went into self-exile after the coup and is now a fugitive from a two-year prison term imposed after he was convicted in October of violating a conflict of interest law. Critics accused him of massive corruption during his six years in office.

Saturday's rally at a Buddhist temple outside Bangkok was billed as a fund-raiser for Thaksin supporters, who still hold periodic rallies that have failed to muster significant crowds.

Thaksin did not mention where he was calling from. A close political ally in Bangkok, Jakrapob Penakir, declined to comment on his whereabouts or recent reports that Thaksin was traveling in Nicaragua and elsewhere in South America.

He has been spotted repeatedly in Dubai, China, and Hong Kong and was living on-and-off in London, until Britain revoked his visa following the Thai court's conviction. 'I can adjust to living abroad, but I will not die abroad,' Thaksin said.

'I am ready to return,' he said. 'But I have to ask first if I am going to be treated fairly.'

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was the opposition leader for much of Thaksin's tenure. Abhisit was named premier in December by Parliament, an appointment that eased a political crisis that revolved around Thaksin's political legacy.

- Associated Press / 2009-02-15

Edited February 15, 2009 by sriracha john

[Sandstone Art]

'I want to commend you on your love for democracy. Today is the day of love,' Thaksin told a Saturday evening rally.

Associated Press

Thaksin's Valentine's-Day call

BANGKOK - FUGITIVE ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Valentine's Day phone call broadcast to supporters from a mystery location, vowing to return one day to Thailand.

'I want to commend you on your love for democracy. Today is the day of love,' Thaksin told a Saturday evening rally of thousands of supporters still angry over the 2006 coup that ousted him.

- Associated Press / 2009-02-15

I felt that what he said about 'Today is the day of love' as the greatest joke!

Wasn't he the one that clamped down on those 'love' / short-time motels during Valentines' day and Loykratong when he was in power?

Think he mentioned something like Valentine's day is some kind of western celebrations that corrodes Thai culture?

[sriracha john]

Thaksin and Valentine's Through The Ages....

Valentine's 2008:

Thaksin addresses a press conference in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Thaksin vows to return from exile

Thaksin says he will not resume his career in politics

HONG KONG -- Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Tuesday he would return from exile early next year and face corruption charges, but would not resume his career in politics.

After the political party that backs him won nearly half the seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections, Thaksin told a news conference in Hong Kong that he hoped to return by February 14 -- St. Valentine's Day -- or April at the latest after Thailand's new government is in place.

People Power Party Leader Samak Sundaravej said a new parliament controlled by the PPP would put in place an amnesty to allow Thaksin's return and amend the constitution to allow Thaksin to eventually return to politics.

Nevertheless, the Associated Press reported that Thaksin was adamant he would not return to politics.

"I am quitting politics, I am not going back to politics. I will not take any political position except when they want any ideas," the AP reported him as saying.

- CNN

Valentine's 2004:

Midnight's the limit for clubs and bars

BANGKOK: Imagine a city where bars, nightclubs and even movie theaters shut down early, where young people are off the streets by curfew, where universities stage surprise drug tests and where a woman cannot enter a restaurant without a male escort.

That would not be the racy, all-night Bangkok that people like to call "fun city."

With Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra intimidating the press; packing the courts, the police and the military; and all but eliminating political opposition, and with social order added to the mix, Thailand could begin to be a somewhat different place.

There are those, indeed, who warn of a creeping dictatorship as the popular and powerful prime minister moves systematically to bring the country into his grip.

- The New York Times

Valentine's 2002 (describe elsewhere in the above post):

"We are helping them keep their virginity," explained Nikhom Jarumanee, an Education Ministry official [in the Thaksin administration], when an experimental curfew was tried on Valentine's Day two years ago.

Plenty of people here think this is balderdash.

The Bangkok Post, an English-language daily, summed up the mood in a sarcastic headline last week: "Lock Up the Young, This Is Thailand."

- The New York Times

Edited February 15, 2009 by sriracha john

[Xangsamhua]

Can we believe anything from the media?

Srirachajohn posted a clipping earlier that the Truth Today group had arranged 1000 tables at a Don Mueang temple for a nosh-up on behalf of Thaksin. Media reports on another thread say that there were 20,000 at this gathering, i.e. 20 people per table! I've been to a lot of "Chinese table" dinners and don't think I've ever seen a table for as many as 20, and the temple grounds must be enormous to fit in 1000 of these giant tables. A banquet for 20,000 people: the mind boggles.

Have I got my wires awfully crossed (but these are the reports) or was there a goldfish core of people tucking in while thousands stood/sat/squatted around them unfed?

Last week there was some argie-pargie about how many turned up for the UDD/Chiangmai51/whoever march in the old town. The media reported 1000, which was hotly contested by TV members who were there - one claiming that 1000 was just one group and that several converged.

Why do we continue to give credence to media reports when we all know in our hearts that they are full of faecal matter?

[mc2]

Thaksin and Valentine's Through The Ages....

Valentine's 2008:

your love affair (or should I say obsession) with Thaksin is one of the more standout relationships here on Thai Visa.

[mc2]

Can we believe anything from the media?

Srirachajohn posted a clipping earlier that the Truth Today group had arranged 1000 tables at a Don Mueang temple for a nosh-up on behalf of Thaksin. Media reports on another thread say that there were 20,000 at this gathering, i.e. 20 people per table! I've been to a lot of "Chinese table" dinners and don't think I've ever seen a table for as many as 20, and the temple grounds must be enormous to fit in 1000 of these giant tables. A banquet for 20,000 people: the mind boggles.

Have I got my wires awfully crossed (but these are the reports) or was there a goldfish core of people tucking in while thousands stood/sat/squatted around them unfed?

Last week there was some argie-pargie about how many turned up for the UDD/Chiangmai51/whoever march in the old town. The media reported 1000, which was hotly contested by TV members who were there - one claiming that 1000 was just one group and that several converged.

Why do we continue to give credence to media reports when we all know in our hearts that they are full of faecal matter?

we have PR teams on both sides coming out with false rumours, slanted information , its very much an information war at the moment . unfortunatly its something we will probably have to live with for a while

[sriracha john]

Deputy PM Sanan to Thaksin: Come home to fight court cases

NONTHABURI, Feb 15 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart on Sunday urged former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to stop his telephone campaign games with his supporters and to return to Thailand to carry out his fight in his country's courts.

Thaksin's telephoning of especially-gathered 'Red Shirt' audiences from his pool of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters will never end the problem, Sanan said.

"If he (Thaksin) wants to come back here, he can come anytime to fight court cases under the legal framework," the deputy prime minister, also the chief adviser of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, said. "But he should not phone in to incite his supporters."

Thaksin on Valentine's Day telephoned a UDD fund-raising event at a Buddhist temple in suburban Bangkok, reiterating his oft-repeated claims that he is being politically persecuted and cannot return home because Thailand's courts are stacked against him, and that because of this bias he cannot have a fair trial.

Sanan encouraged the ousted, convicted former premier to return to Thailand to resolve the convictions issue for his own sake, and for the well-being of the country, and to cease his telephone-assisted rallies.

Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam urged the public to ignore Thaksin's phone calls, stating that he felt the calls were intended to intensify social divisions in the country and the instability of the government.

Mr. Thaworn however expressed his belief that Thaksin's phone calls to his supporters would not lead the public to pity the ousted premier, instead will erode his base of support.

Commenting on the planned large-scale United Front protest in 10 days time, when the Red Shirts intend to march on Government House during the February 24 Cabinet meeting, demanding that the coalition government resign, Mr. Thaworn said he believed no violence would occur. Security will be tightened and police are prepared to avoid clashes.

[Sandstone Art]

Thaksin and Valentine's Through The Ages....

Valentine's 2008:

your love affair (or should I say obsession) with Thaksin is one of the more standout relationships here on Thai Visa.

NO.....

Dear Thaksin is always 'Romancing the Kingdom'

So, we are die-hard romantic and remember and recall what Thaksin do on each Valentine's day that was on record.

[Sandstone Art]

Can we believe anything from the media?

Srirachajohn posted a clipping earlier that the Truth Today group had arranged 1000 tables at a Don Mueang temple for a nosh-up on behalf of Thaksin. Media reports on another thread say that there were 20,000 at this gathering, i.e. 20 people per table! I've been to a lot of "Chinese table" dinners and don't think I've ever seen a table for as many as 20, and the temple grounds must be enormous to fit in 1000 of these giant tables. A banquet for 20,000 people: the mind boggles.

Have I got my wires awfully crossed (but these are the reports) or was there a goldfish core of people tucking in while thousands stood/sat/squatted around them unfed?

Last week there was some argie-pargie about how many turned up for the UDD/Chiangmai51/whoever march in the old town. The media reported 1000, which was hotly contested by TV members who were there - one claiming that 1000 was just one group and that several converged.

Why do we continue to give credence to media reports when we all know in our hearts that they are full of faecal matter?

Gathering there does not means that all 20,000 of them are squeezed to sit on 1,000 tables. In no report are the size of the table mentioned. So, 1,000 table can be placed all over the temple or even in the open land area nearby.

Given the bleak economy outlook, it will not be suprise that 2 reds are eatting up a meal of 1,000 baht listed instead of the intended 1,000 baht per head!

Or another half of those present die-hard reds are waiting to take turn at the table intended for the 10,000 pax that paid?

[sriracha john]

Time is ticking for Thakky even if they don't revoke his normal passport...

During his visit to Indonesia from Feb. 10-11, Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya talked to The Jakarta Post’s Mariani Dewi:

Question:

How about the government policy about [the former prime minister] Thaksin [shinawatra]. Will you revoke his passport?

Answer:

No. His diplomatic passport was cancelled by the last government, not by us. He only has an ordinary passport valid up to the year 2012. Whether we will cancel his ordinary passport depends very much on the recommendation of the judicial council, which is the advisory legal body to the executive branch. But the final decision will be at the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, depending on their recommendation.

Second, if we are to annul his passport, I don’t think we will be accused of infringement of his freedom to travel, because the foreign office can issue the Certificate of Identity, which is a one-way travel document – he must come back to Thailand. He has to come back to Thailand because he has to go to jail for two years. But I cannot do this unless the Office of the Attorney-General instructs the foreign office to do so.

So we don’t want to just simply go and cancel his passport without a notification from the Office of the Attorney-General and the police. It is their duty to bring back Thaksin, it is not my ministry’s duty. But it will be our duty if and when the OAG writes to us. They haven’t written and I said that I am waiting for that letter.

Once they ask me to do, I already know what to do. It is already in my head.

At the same time… we do not want any friendly countries to allow Thaksin to use their country as a political platform to attack Thai society and the decency of Thai society. And he has to go to jail.

- Jakarta Post / 2009-02-16

[hammered]

Sounds like he has a bit of time before they get round to cancelling the passport. Then he has to return or apply for refugee status in whatever country is he is when the passport is invalidated (think of the power to decide where to strand him!). Or guess he may have a passport form another country as do many Thai business people.

[Plus]

Passport is Dems trump card if Thaksin decides to raise the game. They can restrict his movements diplomatically, and it seems to be working as he cancelled a couple of meetings already. If that fails, they'll put some pressure on the police and OAG and Thaksin's a history.

For now the deal is - stay away, do your boring call-ins, we are not interested. The Amnesty bill might shake Dems a bit but if they win that battle they'd lose all interest in fighting Thaksin. He is his own worst enemy and reds will eventually get bored, too.

[Sandstone Art]

The REDS will be fading their colour to a nice healthy pink in no time!

[hammered]

Passport is Dems trump card if Thaksin decides to raise the game. They can restrict his movements diplomatically, and it seems to be working as he cancelled a couple of meetings already. If that fails, they'll put some pressure on the police and OAG and Thaksin's a history.

For now the deal is - stay away, do your boring call-ins, we are not interested. The Amnesty bill might shake Dems a bit but if they win that battle they'd lose all interest in fighting Thaksin. He is his own worst enemy and reds will eventually get bored, too.

There are a few interesting stories doing the rounds of why he has avoided travel close to Thailand and they mostly relate to worries over encountering some of his ex-allies! It may not be just the Dems administrative powers that are restricting him. Paranoia is no doubt well set in by now too

[sriracha john]

Sam Rainsy Party calls for Thaksin investigation

OPPOSITION lawmakers have called on Prime Minister Hun Sen to investigate media reports that former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sought refuge in Cambodia following the cancellation of his British visa late last year.

In a letter dated Wednesday, the Sam Rainsy Party expressed concerns the fugitive Thai politician might be using Cambodia as a launch pad for a political comeback in Thailand, potentially jeopardising relations between the two countries.

"There has been much information about the presence of the former Thai prime minister in Cambodia since early January," the letter said.

"Because of concerns from Khmer citizens about the potential impact on the political affairs of neighbouring countries, we, as people's representatives, would like to ask Royal Government to make an official response."

Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and convicted in absentia for corruption, is thought to be searching for a new home following the cancellation of his visa by UK officials in November.

At the time, Thai media speculated that the former premier was considering a move to China, the Philippines, or the Bahamas, but recent reports in The Nation indicate the premier may have set up base in Koh Kong province.

SRP spokesman Yim Sovann could not be reached for comment Sunday, but Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the rumours had no clear source and that their dissemination could affect the country's national security.

"There is no information confirming whether Thaksin has come to Cambodia or not," he said, questioning the opposition's use of The Nation's reports.

"This information could affect national security. Thailand could use this information to do something that we do not expect them to do."

Thitinan Ponsudhirak, a political analyst based at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, would not speculate on Thaksin's whereabouts, but said that his presence in Cambodia, if true, could develop into a serious diplomatic problem.

"If he is in Cambodia, using it as a political staging ground, it would have adverse ramifications - not only for Thai-Cambodia relations, but also within the ASEAN framework - because Thaksin is at the centre of the Thai political quagmire," he said by phone from Bangkok.

He added that Thaksin could still legally reside in Hong Kong, the US, Dubai, and China, despite being blocked from Japan and Great Britain.

According to the Constitution, the prime minister must respond to the opposition's letters within nine days.

- The Phnom Penh Post / 2009-02-16

==================

Where's Waldo?

[hammered]

Be interesting to see if there is any truth to it or it is just internal Cambodian politicking

[sriracha john]

Khmer opposition calls for Thaksin investigation

Cambodia's Opposition lawmakers have called on their Prime Minister Hun Sen to investigate media reports that fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sought refuge in Cambodia following the cancellation of his British visa late last year.

According to the Phnom Penh Post, the Sam Rainsy Party expressed concerns in a letter dated February 11 that the fugitive Thai politician might be using Cambodia as a launch PAD for a political comeback in Thailand, potentially jeopardising relations between the two countries.

"There has been much information about the presence of the former Thai prime minister in Cambodia since early January," the Phnom Penh-based newspaper quoted the letter as saying.

"Because of concerns from Khmer citizens about the potential impact on the political affairs of neighbouring countries, we, as people's representatives, would like to ask Royal Government to make an official response."

At the time, Thai media speculated that the former premier was considering a move to China, the Philippines or the Bahamas, but recent reports in The Nation indicate the premier may have set up base in Koh Kong province.

SRP spokesman Yim Sovann could not be reached for comment Sunday, but Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the rumours had no clear source and that their dissemination could affect the country's national security.

"There is no information confirming whether Thaksin has come to Cambodia or not," he said, questioning the opposition's use of The Nation's reports.

"This information could affect national security. Thailand could use this information to do something that we do not expect them to do."

- The Nation / 2009-02-16

======================================================================

From 2Bangkok, is a link to a copy of the signed letter (in Khmer) sent to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen:

http://www.samrainsyparty.org/archives/ach...p_mp_ask_pm.htm