Thailand Revokes Thaksin's Passport

[plachon]

, but watch the news as the Malaysians, Singaporeans and Indonesians (alongside the mainland Chinese government business) start to move into Africa in the next couple of years for agriculture.

That very well may occur...but it will have nothing to do with Thaksin. They'll all be doing that on their own.

They'll have to be careful though that they don't repeat the mistakes of Daewoo (?) in Madagascar. Neo-colonial corporations and chaebols trying to screw African natural resources are not as popular as some may think in a newer era of instant telecommunications and increased democratisation in the continent. I'm sure Mugabe would love to entertain Thaksin for a few days mind you, and show him the kind of hospitality he gave to a British crook, called Nicholas van Hoogstraten, who shares a lot of traits with ol' Square Face.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_van_Hoogstraten

[Heng]

I am sure he has money out there, but not enough to move governments in Africa. They wrote the book (or at least got a first edition of it from here) on corruption. 100's of millions is what it takes. He has 2bn frozen which I would presume to be the vast majority of his wealth. These guys don't even get out of bed for less than 50mn$. I might be wrong, but watch the news as the Malaysians, Singaporeans and Indonesians (alongside the mainland Chinese government business) start to move into Africa in the next couple of years for agriculture.

He also spent $42 million on that nice little Bombardier. So *surely* he's down to a couple million by now. If there's one thing I know about billionaire captain of industry white collar crooks, is that they don't know how to stash vast amounts of capital off the books. Oh, wait a minute, that's the Captain and Tennille I'm thinking about.

[brahmburgers]

Thaksin is like a slick talker who walks downtown late at night - showing a wad of 100 dollar bills to various hustlers hanging out on sidewalks and lurking in alleys.

"Hey pal, you see this wad of hundreds? Pretty cool, huh. There's plenty more where this comes from. I'm a big shot, and I know how to turn a buck. You and me can get some gigs going and make a bundle. What you want to deal with - gems, watches, mobile phones? What you waiting for? And hey buddy, pay no attention to all that noise from the Thai government - they're just sore losers who ran me out of town for being too successful."

And that photo of T with the big guy - you sure that isn't Bo Diddley's long lost cousin from Batuanaland?

Edited April 26, 2009 by brahmburgers

[dave9988]

There are a lot of professional wrestling fans in this thread, I imagine.

[Koo82]

BANGKOK – Police have confirmed that their intelligence reports all point conclusively to Thaksin still being on the earth’s surface. "From the latest check, there is no record to confirm that Thaksin has left the planet," police spokesman Lt General Watcharaphol Prasanratchakit said.

Watcharaphol said police have already contacted Interpol, the CIA, the Russian security services, Mossad, the Chinese Communist Party, the Mexican Federalis, Robert Mugabe, the Canadian Mounties, and Captain Jack Sparrow for assistance in further narrowing down Thaksin's whereabouts and arresting him.

Having definitively eliminated the possibility that Thaksin has escaped earth’s atmosphere and gravitational field, the police are confident that the fugitive ex-PM is cornered. “We’re sure we are very close to arresting and extraditing him,” Watcharaphol continued. “We’re checking Google Earth all the time, hoping to see him, and we’ve also asked Thais in Los Angeles to look out for him in restaurants.”

http://notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=769

Edited April 26, 2009 by Koo82

[sriracha john]

BANGKOK – Police have confirmed that their intelligence reports all point conclusively to Thaksin still being on the earth’s surface.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thaksin-s-Fa...1267013&hl=

Thaksin's Family Has Been Sent Into Space, its true..

[animatic]

I suspect he wears a large hat, resembling a Fiat Uno.

Otherwise that inflated square head would show up on Google Earth.

Edited April 26, 2009 by animatic

[sriracha john]

UAE... Nicaragua... Liberia... Montenegro...

If nothing else, the fugitive Thaksin is doing much to encourage everyone to study more world geography, particularly with some of the more uncommon and lesser known nations of the world...

[sriracha john]

Convicted Thaksin holds Montenegro passport

Runaway ex-Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra used his Montenegro passport to travel to Liberia last week, a source said.

His passport number is I38kd3695, the source said.

According to his Montenegro passport, Thaksin who has been running away from a two-year jail term in Thailand, arrived in Monrovia, capital of Liberia on April 20 and departed it on April 23.

Earlier reports confirmed that he is also holding a Nicaraguan passport as he is appointed as "Special Ambassador" by Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega.

Thai government has revoked all his passports, including diplomatic and ordinary passports, after he became fugitive.

-- The Nation 2009-04-27

Edited April 27, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thaksin can stay in UAE if no political moves

United Arab Emirates will allow fugitive ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to stay in the country on the condition that he would not use it as a platform to attack Thailand.

"UAE allows Thaksin to live in the country as long as he did not make any political move against Thailand. UAE has already informed Thaksin. Thailand and UAE have been developing trade relation, investment, and tourism," Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said.

Alongkorn said Thaksin is doing business in UAE as he bought many properties and operated many businesses in Dubai.

"I think he would be able to stay and run businesses in UAE until Thailand and UAE sign extradition treaty. The country has already sent draft of the treaty to Thai foreign ministry for consideration," he said.

Thaksin has held a Nicaragua passport so he could only travel to Nicaragua and African countries. The foreign ministry is ckecking whether Thaksin also holds a Cambodian passport.

Alongkorn said, "Thaksin's fellows tried to spread rumour that he was invited to invest in many countries to save his face and lured the goverment who is trying to arrest Thaksin to the wrong place."

He claimed that many of those countries were not willing to welcome Thaksin.

-- The Nation 2009-04-27

[sriracha john]

Thailand to sign extradition treaty with UAE in bid to apprehend Thaksin

BANGKOK, April 27 (TNA) - The Thai government has received a draft extradition treaty from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will co-sign it immediately after studying its details, a senior Thai official said on Monday.

Panich Vikitsreth, an Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, told journalists that ministry officials are studying the draft and will sign it without delay because the UAE also wanted Thailand to extradite some of its nationals being detained in this country as well.

Mr. Panich and Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot travelled to the UAE earlier this month and held talks with senior foreign ministry officials of that country.

They reportedly conveyed the Thai government’s concerns regarding convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra using Dubai as his base in attacking the Thai government.

Ousted in a September 2006 coup d’etat, Thaksin, now living in self-imposed exile overseas, was believed to be in hiding in the UAE in recent weeks.

He was sentenced in absentia to two years imprisonment by a Thai court after he was found to have abused his power while prime minister by helping his then wife buy land in Bangkok’s prime business area at a discounted price.

The government will closely watch Thaksin if he enters that country again because Thailand’s relations with the UAE are “very warm,” Mr. Panich said.

Mr. Panich said he did not know how many countries had issued passports to Thaksin, but that he had only heard that a “country in central America” had given a special passport to him on April 15.

The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry had already revoked both his diplomatic and ordinary passports in an attempt to capture him.

Regarding Jakrapob Penkair, a leading member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and also a staunch supporter of Thaksin, who escaped arrest for allegedly instigating unrest in Bangkok on April 13, Mr. Panich said he had checked a few days ago and found that Jakrapob had “not yet left the country.”

Jakrapob could have left the country without using his own passport, he said. Nevertheless, his whereabouts remains unknown.

-- TNA 2009-04-27

[samgrowth]

Thailand to sign extradition treaty with UAE in bid to apprehend Thaksin

BANGKOK, April 27 (TNA) - The Thai government has received a draft extradition treaty from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will co-sign it immediately after studying its details, a senior Thai official said on Monday.

Panich Vikitsreth, an Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, told journalists that ministry officials are studying the draft and will sign it without delay because the UAE also wanted Thailand to extradite some of its nationals being detained in this country as well.

Mr. Panich and Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot travelled to the UAE earlier this month and held talks with senior foreign ministry officials of that country.

They reportedly conveyed the Thai government's concerns regarding convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra using Dubai as his base in attacking the Thai government.

Ousted in a September 2006 coup d'etat, Thaksin, now living in self-imposed exile overseas, was believed to be in hiding in the UAE in recent weeks.

He was sentenced in absentia to two years imprisonment by a Thai court after he was found to have abused his power while prime minister by helping his then wife buy land in Bangkok's prime business area at a discounted price.

The government will closely watch Thaksin if he enters that country again because Thailand's relations with the UAE are "very warm," Mr. Panich said.

Mr. Panich said he did not know how many countries had issued passports to Thaksin, but that he had only heard that a "country in central America" had given a special passport to him on April 15.

The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry had already revoked both his diplomatic and ordinary passports in an attempt to capture him.

Regarding Jakrapob Penkair, a leading member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and also a staunch supporter of Thaksin, who escaped arrest for allegedly instigating unrest in Bangkok on April 13, Mr. Panich said he had checked a few days ago and found that Jakrapob had "not yet left the country."

Jakrapob could have left the country without using his own passport, he said. Nevertheless, his whereabouts remains unknown.

-- TNA 2009-04-27

Just blindly sign it. Nothing can go wrong. Don't even have to read the fine print first.

Remember the last time a FM sign something? It is about some temple & UNESCO. Nopadon Pattama lost his job within days. However, Kasin have the protection of Sondhi.

[sriracha john]

Military routs last of Thaksin's supporters

The last batch of military officers who were pre-cadet classmates and supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been transferred to less influential duties.

The mid-year reshuffle approved by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and announced yesterday involved officers who had important positions and were classmates of Thaksin in Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School and others close to Thaksin. They have been moved to inactive positions.

After the military coup in 2006, many officers appointed or having links with Thaksin were moved in several reshuffles. An army observer said yesterday's list was the last group believed to have connections with the convicted former prime minister.

Continued here:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-28

[hammered]

Military routs last of Thaksin's supporters

The last batch of military officers who were pre-cadet classmates and supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been transferred to less influential duties.

The mid-year reshuffle approved by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and announced yesterday involved officers who had important positions and were classmates of Thaksin in Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School and others close to Thaksin. They have been moved to inactive positions.

After the military coup in 2006, many officers appointed or having links with Thaksin were moved in several reshuffles. An army observer said yesterday's list was the last group believed to have connections with the convicted former prime minister.

Continued here:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-28

NO surprise there. Doubt the military wants to have officers close to an inciter of unrest in high positions.

[ratcatcher]

Military routs last of Thaksin's supporters

The last batch of military officers who were pre-cadet classmates and supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been transferred to less influential duties.

The mid-year reshuffle approved by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and announced yesterday involved officers who had important positions and were classmates of Thaksin in Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School and others close to Thaksin. They have been moved to inactive positions.

After the military coup in 2006, many officers appointed or having links with Thaksin were moved in several reshuffles. An army observer said yesterday's list was the last group believed to have connections with the convicted former prime minister.

Continued here:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-28

Abhisit's just doing the laundry.

[animatic]

Lots of WISK used and no softener either.

Time for lots of bleach, and remove those colors for good.

Out damned spot, I say.

Edited April 28, 2009 by animatic

[HagenvonTronje]

Military routs last of Thaksin's supporters

The last batch of military officers who were pre-cadet classmates and supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been transferred to less influential duties.

The mid-year reshuffle approved by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and announced yesterday involved officers who had important positions and were classmates of Thaksin in Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School and others close to Thaksin. They have been moved to inactive positions.

After the military coup in 2006, many officers appointed or having links with Thaksin were moved in several reshuffles. An army observer said yesterday's list was the last group believed to have connections with the convicted former prime minister.

Continued here:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-28

NO surprise there. Doubt the military wants to have officers close to an inciter of unrest in high positions.

you mean not follow orders to go with tanks and guns after protesters who would not win against in an election?

the big question would be who gets the now empty positions? friends of the dem's after the biggest batch was before reshuffled for junta interests. i see long, long threads comming when the re-re-shuffle starts, sooner or later.

and any other classmates of abhisit spotted, next to the Finance Minister, which he in england went to school together, same class.

[samgrowth]

Military routs last of Thaksin's supporters

The last batch of military officers who were pre-cadet classmates and supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been transferred to less influential duties.

The mid-year reshuffle approved by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and announced yesterday involved officers who had important positions and were classmates of Thaksin in Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School and others close to Thaksin. They have been moved to inactive positions.

After the military coup in 2006, many officers appointed or having links with Thaksin were moved in several reshuffles. An army observer said yesterday's list was the last group believed to have connections with the convicted former prime minister.

Continued here:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-28

NO surprise there. Doubt the military wants to have officers close to an inciter of unrest in high positions.

you mean not follow orders to go with tanks and guns after protesters who would not win against in an election?

the big question would be who gets the now empty positions? friends of the dem's after the biggest batch was before reshuffled for junta interests. i see long, long threads comming when the re-re-shuffle starts, sooner or later.

and any other classmates of abhisit spotted, next to the Finance Minister, which he in england went to school together, same class.

Mark escape the army (BTW which is against the law), hence he has no army friend.

However he has lots of Oxford schoolmate (Noppadon Pattama is one).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noppadon_Pattama

[TAWP]

Claiming someone broke the law without proof could be consider slander and land you a libel case.

[animatic]

Military routs last of Thaksin's supporters

The last batch of military officers who were pre-cadet classmates and supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been transferred to less influential duties.

The mid-year reshuffle approved by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and announced yesterday involved officers who had important positions and were classmates of Thaksin in Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School and others close to Thaksin. They have been moved to inactive positions.

After the military coup in 2006, many officers appointed or having links with Thaksin were moved in several reshuffles. An army observer said yesterday's list was the last group believed to have connections with the convicted former prime minister.

Continued here:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-28

NO surprise there. Doubt the military wants to have officers close to an inciter of unrest in high positions.

you mean not follow orders to go with tanks and guns after protesters who would not win against in an election?

the big question would be who gets the now empty positions? friends of the dem's after the biggest batch was before reshuffled for junta interests. i see long, long threads comming when the re-re-shuffle starts, sooner or later.

and any other classmates of abhisit spotted, next to the Finance Minister, which he in england went to school together, same class.

Mark escape the army (BTW which is against the law), hence he has no army friend.

However he has lots of Oxford schoolmate (Noppadon Pattama is one).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noppadon_Pattama

It's a wonder they had him TEACHING at the MILITARY ACADEMY

after he so 'broke the law' avoiding conscription as you allege.

It is called alternate service, if you have special training

you can serve the country in other ways than just hold a gun.

Mark had knowledge that was a benefit to the soldiers and so he taught soldiers.

The army thought that was a good deal for them.

Edited April 29, 2009 by animatic

[Oberkommando]

How ironic that there are issues with his military service yet he rode to power on the back of a military coup, junta and subsequent machinations to become Prime Minister.

[TAWP]

How ironic that there are issues with his military service yet he rode to power on the back of a military coup, junta and subsequent machinations to become Prime Minister.

Ironic that it's only the reds that are having an 'issue' over it and yet seem to hate the military so much...but hate that he wasn't more a part of them...

[Oberkommando]

How ironic that there are issues with his military service yet he rode to power on the back of a military coup, junta and subsequent machinations to become Prime Minister.

Ironic that it's only the reds that are having an 'issue' over it and yet seem to hate the military so much...but hate that he wasn't more a part of them...

I think the issue is that some people believe he dodged out of proper military service thus indicating his perceived privileged status.

[ThNiner]

I think the issue is that some people believe he dodged out of proper military service thus indicating his perceived privileged status.

So the guy who (depending on your beliefs, not facts ) may or may not have dodged the military service is perceived as being privileged. But another guy who has been dodging everything from paying taxes, going to court hearings to going to jail is considered a common man?

How weird is our world, ehh?

[ballpoint]

How ironic that there are issues with his military service yet he rode to power on the back of a military coup, junta and subsequent machinations to become Prime Minister.

Ironic that it's only the reds that are having an 'issue' over it and yet seem to hate the military so much...but hate that he wasn't more a part of them...

I think the issue is that some people believe he dodged out of proper military service thus indicating his perceived privileged status.

And "some people" believe in the tooth fairy, and that the earth is only a few thousand years old. That doesn't stop the majority from knowing the truth. I see in the cycle of red arguments that we're back to this old one again. Next it'll be "the country was better off under Thaksin, unless he killed you", followed by "Abhisit is a puppet", then, in quick succession: "It's not fair, the yellows are still on the streets", "Thaksin is god, he loves the poor so much he sent his only son out of the country so they could die for him", "Thaksin isn't corrupt, or no more so than any other PM", "Abhisit is not the legal PM", "Samak was just doing a cooking show", "It wasn't the reds causing the trouble over Songkhran", and in a month or two we'll be back to "Abhisit is a draft dodger" again. I remember the last time this one came up. Most of the Thaksinista's (how ironic we were using that word before he even got his Nicaraguan passport), clearly had no clue as to the facts of the case, or even the Thai draft laws, and the topic died out as each of their arguments was rebutted and exposed as <deleted>. I guess its a sign of the mentality of his supporters that they wheel it out again when they've nothing else to say.

[Jingthing]

Ever politician has their minor political liabilities. This is normal. Obama dealt with the potential liability of his early drug use by writing an inspiring book about it. This is trivial stuff.

[Oberkommando]

Wasn't Mark's father appointed by the Suchinda Junta to the cabinet in 1991?

Mark's Thai-Chinese family has long standing ties with the military it seems, even ties with the most unsavoury military rulers in recent history.

[hammered]

Wasn't Mark's father appointed by the Suchinda Junta to the cabinet in 1991?

Mark's Thai-Chinese family has long standing ties with the military it seems, even ties with the most unsavoury military rulers in recent history.

Why stress Thai-Chinese? Thai is Thai surely.

Do we judge people by their antecedents now?

There are a lot of people in parlaiment and outside involved in the current struggles who have direct relationships with these unsavoury rulers forged by themsleves and not hung on them by familial realtionship. People cant always change what their family have done but those who have done things for themselves, well that they are responsible for themsleves.

[ballpoint]

Wasn't Mark's father appointed by the Suchinda Junta to the cabinet in 1991?

Mark's Thai-Chinese family has long standing ties with the military it seems, even ties with the most unsavoury military rulers in recent history.

You're talking about the civilian cabinet, put in place after the Chatichai Choonhaven government was overthrown, with Anand Panyarachun as its leader? The same leader that is arguably the most non corrupt and respected PM Thailand has had? The same leader that surprised the country by not being a puppet of the military, but forged his own path? The same leader that HM the King chose to run the country following Black May, until elections could take place? The same leader that appointed civilian technocrats to the cabinet himself? Suchinda did not make cabinet appointments, other than defense. But, again, you get a better argument if the facts don't get in the way.

And why do you need to point out his Thai-Chinese origins? You could very well say "Thaksin's Thai-Chinese family, blah blah blah, with the military, his cousin was army commander in chief, and later went on to be chairman of the board of an LPG transport company who's tankers just happened to be used by red shirted rioters as a threat to civilian lives and residences".

[Oberkommando]

Wasn't Mark's father appointed by the Suchinda Junta to the cabinet in 1991?

Mark's Thai-Chinese family has long standing ties with the military it seems, even ties with the most unsavoury military rulers in recent history.

Now you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel of bullshit. You're talking about the civilian cabinet, put in place after the Chatichai Choonhaven government was overthrown, with Anand Panyarachun as its leader? The same leader that is arguably the most non corrupt and respected PM Thailand has had? The same leader that surprised the country by not being a puppet of the military, but forged his own path? The same leader that HM the King chose to run the country following Black May, until elections could take place? The same leader that appointed civilian technocrats to the cabinet himself? Suchinda did not make cabinet appointments, other than defense. But, again, you get a better argument if the facts don't get in the way.

And why do you need to point out his Thai-Chinese origins? You could very well say "Thaksin's Thai-Chinese family, blah blah blah, with the military, his cousin was army commander in chief, and later went on to be chairman of the board of an LPG transport company who's tankers just happened to be used by red shirted rioters as a threat to civilian lives and residences".

It was the NPKC junta that appointed the cabinet, and specifically Abhisit's father to the position of Deputy Minister of Public Health.

Seems two generations of Vejjajivas have benefited from Junta rule and military cabinet appointments. Like father, like son.

Why not point out Abhisit's Chinese origins, and why do so many people have a problem with that?

And I thought Chuan Leekpai was "the most non corrupt and respected PM Thailand has had", or have you now changed your mind about that?

I suppose anybody would be "the most non corrupt and respected PM Thailand has had" as long as it wasn't Thaksin or anyone associated with him right?

Edited April 29, 2009 by Oberkommando