Uae Says Thaksin No Longer Welcome There

[HagenvonTronje]

Foreign Minister to Continue Efforts to Extradite Thaksin

UPDATE : 7 May 2009

The foreign minister believes Thaksin Shinawatra has nearly no place of refuge in the world, after Thailand lodged official requests with Europe.

Foreign Minister Kasit Pirom mentioned that he has coordinated with national police, asking them to arrest ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra so that he can serve his two-year prison sentence.

He also believes Thaksin has almost no refuge in the world, following Thailand's official requests with Europe.

... (not case related content sniped)

-- Tan Network 7 May 20097 May 2009

article here

edit: wrong news agency logo corrected

Edited May 7, 2009 by HagenvonTronje

[LawnGnome]

Just for the record - Thaksin is no longer welcome at my house either.

Or any of my families' homes...

[HagenvonTronje]

wrong or misleading title

Uae Says Thaksin No Longer Welcome There - so says Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's assistant Panit Wikitset . (Unfortunately, Thaksin had already left the country.)

UPDATE:

Police: Thaksin still in UAE

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 21/05/2009 at 04:43 PM

The police believe fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is still residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and are working with the Attorney-General's Office to extradite him.

Pol Maj-Gen Visanu Prasartthongosot, commander of the police foreign affairs division, said on Thursday that there was no evidence that Thaksin had actually left the UAE.

However, it was possible he was traveling under an alias, Pol Maj-Gen Visanu said.

He said Thai police were in contact with police in the UAE.

it authorities conclude the outlawed politician is still in the mid-east, they could easily go to meet him because it is very close to Thailand, he said,

Police had officially reported the information to the Attorney-General's Office, he said.

Even though Thailand had no extradition treaty with the UAE, authorities from the two countries had worked together on this issue earlier.

...

continue

-- Bangkok Post 21/05/2009

[johnboy72]

I still don't know what all the hassle is... Ok, Thaksin is a dodgy bugger but did the country really suffer during his time in office (compared to previous and present PMs)??

[HagenvonTronje]

Interpol asked to help find Thaksin

Published on May 22, 2009

Police have sought help from the Interpol unit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a search for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is believed to have been staying in that country.

The police move came after Pheu Thai Party MP Chalerm Yoobamrung admitted he had been to Dubai recently to visit Thaksin for three days.

Police Maj General Visanu Prasartthong-osot said the latest intelligence report showed Thaksin had not left the UAE, but police were checking if he had left the country under another name.

"We believe he is likely still in that country because it is not far from Thailand and he can use it as a base for his close aides to come and see him,'' he said.

Visanu said he had submitted a request to the Attorney General's Foreign Affairs office to seek the extradition of Thaksin, even though Thailand does not have an extradition treaty with the UAE. "We can ask for cooperation from the UAE since we had earlier helped them arrest and dispatch suspects wanted by them."

After the court issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin, police stepped up pressure on him by asking Interpol police in 187 countries to help find and arrest him, he said. Thai police had been dispatched to countries Thaksin was believed to visit frequently such as Hong Kong, Nicaragua, Montenegro, Cambodia and the UAE.

Chalerm said he did not discuss politics or who would be the new party leader with Thaksin, but they talked about his well-being and his business. Thaksin told him he had bought an island in Montenegro to develop a real estate business, hoping to make billions of baht in profit by selling expensive mansions to Asian millionaires, following the success of Hawaii.

"Thaksin is living a good life in Dubai because the country highly honours him and has given him top security. The reports that said Thaksin is not welcome there are wrong. Dubai approved a visa for me 24 hours after I applied. Thaksin took me out shopping in malls and many people came to ask for his autograph and his picture,'' he said.

Thaksin also won five goldmine concessions from a country in Africa, which had given him a special passport.

Responding to Chalerm's revelation of his visit to Thaksin in Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he had not made any progress getting Thaksin back because he had more important work to do, such as combating drugs and violence in the South.

-- The Nation May 22, 2009

article here

[webfact]

Interpol asked to help find Thaksin

Published on May 22, 2009

Police have sought help from the Interpol unit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a search for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is believed to have been staying in that country.

The police move came after Pheu Thai Party MP Chalerm Yoobamrung admitted he had been to Dubai recently to visit Thaksin for three days.

Police Maj General Visanu Prasartthong-osot said the latest intelligence report showed Thaksin had not left the UAE, but police were checking if he had left the country under another name.

"We believe he is likely still in that country because it is not far from Thailand and he can use it as a base for his close aides to come and see him,'' he said.

Visanu said he had submitted a request to the Attorney General's Foreign Affairs office to seek the extradition of Thaksin, even though Thailand does not have an extradition treaty with the UAE. "We can ask for cooperation from the UAE since we had earlier helped them arrest and dispatch suspects wanted by them."

After the court issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin, police stepped up pressure on him by asking Interpol police in 187 countries to help find and arrest him, he said. Thai police had been dispatched to countries Thaksin was believed to visit frequently such as Hong Kong, Nicaragua, Montenegro, Cambodia and the UAE.

Chalerm said he did not discuss politics or who would be the new party leader with Thaksin, but they talked about his well-being and his business. Thaksin told him he had bought an island in Montenegro to develop a real estate business, hoping to make billions of baht in profit by selling expensive mansions to Asian millionaires, following the success of Hawaii.

"Thaksin is living a good life in Dubai because the country highly honours him and has given him top security. The reports that said Thaksin is not welcome there are wrong. Dubai approved a visa for me 24 hours after I applied. Thaksin took me out shopping in malls and many people came to ask for his autograph and his picture,'' he said.

Thaksin also won five goldmine concessions from a country in Africa, which had given him a special passport.

Responding to Chalerm's revelation of his visit to Thaksin in Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he had not made any progress getting Thaksin back because he had more important work to do, such as combating drugs and violence in the South.

-- The Nation May 22, 2009

article here

These stories get boring!

Get this Mr. T. out of the media!

Can't help my self but I am fed up with the never ending saga of "Dr. Richard Kimble"... sorry I mean "Dr. Taksin"

Edited May 22, 2009 by webfact

[HagenvonTronje]

I still don't know what all the hassle is... Ok, Thaksin is a dodgy bugger but did the country really suffer during his time in office (compared to previous and present PMs)??

ohh, with that broad question thousands of of pages on TVboard are filled.

Thaksin and the UAE is only a small side aspect and interesting to follow. and compare the reality with the announcing of government officials in this case.

and the luridness of that 'drama', how it comes to us via the thai media/ The Nation.

there are some discrepancies and repeated inconsistencies that make it very funny.

specially because this Government boast so much about true information and distorted truth and lies that maybe the opposition try to seed.

take Abhisits warning to the new red shirt newspaper "He said if the newspaper presents distorted information, it will create damages to the country and violate the law"" source

and than look at the time line of all those "Thaksin and the UAE" news. that maybe can be starts with another Abhisit statement back in february:

Rumour about Thaksin should be verified before taken seriously: PM

Published on February 25, 2009

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday reminded the public to check the rumour about ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra before forming any conclusion.

Abhisit was reacting to rumour that countries, like Nicaragua and United Arab Emirates, might grant the status of special citizenship for Thaksin.

Past speculations relating to Thaksin proved false, he said, referring to Thaksin's claims that a number of countries would grant him special passport or would seek his advise or would provide safe haven.

source:

The Nation

so take the PM by his own words and let us, the public, think twice about when any new news about Thaksin and the UAE come up before jumping to any conclusion. could be all just rumours, speculation and false.

[HagenvonTronje]

These stories get boring!

Get this Mr. T. out of the media!

Can't help my self but I am fed up with the never ending saga of "Dr. Richard Kimble"... sorry I mean "Dr. Taksin"

partly you are right, it's boring. but we should not forget to look at who produced all this dr. kimble stories.

i placed a small hint on this as the first reply on this thread, and got some funny reaction by the true believers.

this saga is actually an 'embarrassment' for the government officials who keep this running.

and if this Chalerm words are true: "Thaksin is living a good life in Dubai because the country highly honours him and has given him top security. The reports that said Thaksin is not welcome there are wrong. Dubai approved a visa for me 24 hours after I applied. Thaksin took me out shopping in malls and many people came to ask for his autograph and his picture,''

we have maybe also the real reason why PM Abhisit had cancelled his scheduled to visit UAE 2 weeks ago.

between the lines the never ending saga reveals how much drama, propaganda and gaga is out there, who are the producer of that gaga and now it's on you to draw your conclusions how much you can trust them and where is the so often mentioned 'truth'.

[Insight]

German embassy denies giving Thaksin passport

By: Bangkok Post and Agencies

Published: 22/05/2009 at 02:26 PM

The German embassy on Friday denied local reports that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is said to have six foreign passports, has been issued a German passport.

"Mr Thaksin Shinawatra does not hold a German passport," German embassy spokesman Theodor Proffe said.

Some local newspapers published stories on Friday quoting Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung as saying that Thaksin is passports issued by six countries, including Germany and Cambodia.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thaksin did not have a Cambodian passport..

Mr Suthep said he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had assured him that Phnom Penh had not given Thaksin a passport.

Nicaragua issued Thaksin a diplomatic passport earlirthis year when he was appointed to promote the trade and investment there. He has also been issued with a passport by the government of Montenegro, in the Balkans, according to local media there and plans to buy an Adriatic island off the coast.

The former prime minister is living in exile after jumping bail and fleeing the country shortly before being sentenced to two years in jail on a charge of abuse of power while in office over his former wife's purchase of state land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok.

[Plus]

"He said if the newspaper presents distorted information, it will create damages to the country and violate the law""

What's wrong with this statement?

Is presenting distorted information benefitial to the country in any way? I can easily to think of several scenarios where it would violate the law.

Or do you mean he is prejudiced against red media? Hard to blame him when they insist that he wasn't in the car when he was attacked, and that all rioters were soldiers in disguise.

[Samuian]

I think it's hilariously funny the Thaksin saga!

[HagenvonTronje]

German embassy denies giving Thaksin passport

By: Bangkok Post and Agencies

Published: 22/05/2009 at 02:26 PM

The German embassy on Friday denied local reports that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is said to have six foreign passports, has been issued a German passport.

could be a case of lost in translation , generalization and simplification.

a while ago, apil 17, there was in Le Figaro un article de notre envoyée spéciale à Dubaï, that reported that thaksin had said he conduct business with/in germany (Allemagne) and have somekind of resident card. maybe somekind of visa, permit to stay, or permit to doing business contracts during a stay in germany, or whatever, and that became later the story of a 'passport.'

[webfact]

German embassy denies giving Thaksin passport

By: Bangkok Post and Agencies

Published: 22/05/2009 at 02:26 PM

The German embassy on Friday denied local reports that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is said to have six foreign passports, has been issued a German passport.

"Mr Thaksin Shinawatra does not hold a German passport," German embassy spokesman Theodor Proffe said.

Some local newspapers published stories on Friday quoting Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung as saying that Thaksin is passports issued by six countries, including Germany and Cambodia.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thaksin did not have a Cambodian passport..

Mr Suthep said he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had assured him that Phnom Penh had not given Thaksin a passport.

Nicaragua issued Thaksin a diplomatic passport earlirthis year when he was appointed to promote the trade and investment there. He has also been issued with a passport by the government of Montenegro, in the Balkans, according to local media there and plans to buy an Adriatic island off the coast.

The former prime minister is living in exile after jumping bail and fleeing the country shortly before being sentenced to two years in jail on a charge of abuse of power while in office over his former wife's purchase of state land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok.

I am going to call my actor friend in Hollywood. Maybe someone is interested in "The Greatest Saga on Earth". Maybe Tom Hanks?

[HagenvonTronje]

"He said if the newspaper presents distorted information, it will create damages to the country and violate the law""

What's wrong with this statement?

Is presenting distorted information benefitial to the country in any way? I can easily to think of several scenarios where it would violate the law.

Or do you mean he is prejudiced against red media? Hard to blame him when they insist that he wasn't in the car when he was attacked, and that all rioters were soldiers in disguise.

what are "distorted information"?

okay, just look t all the stories, about that thaksin doesn't have a passport of that and that country or that he isn't welcome in Dubai and so on. or that interpol is going to arrest Thaksin as soon as they can. who tells all this stories? are this true stories or distorted informations.

Abhisit ,was he in that car? who tells this? who brought evidence for that? who believe that anyway?

and what wrote The Nation about this: "Thai PBS confirmed that both Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban were not in any car of the motorcade. The station said Abhisit and Suthep left the Interior Ministry before the red-shirted protesters managed to block the entrance of the compound and ran inside and rioted."

that Abhisit was in that car, was at first only Abhisists story, which he came up several days later after the incidents at the Interior ministry. there are doubts, that this is true. instead to forbid to talk about that, why not substantiate with counter proofs, evidence and facts, if you claim to spoke the truth.

if the government set up a fact finding webpage that contains factual errors, repeats exactly the news reports that have been proven wrong, for example the case of the two red shirted woman, where one of tthem got dragged by her haair across the street. the factreport page, describe the incident wrong and file it under the wrong location. keeps repeating the saga of a angry resident at din deang, what is not true. that happen at ratchaprarop road. so who presents there distorting information?

years ago, what the opposition leader recommend the then PM Thaksin how to react and reply to critics? read here:

"The prime minister should be broadminded,"

Abhisit

said.

"If the respond allegations with allegations, his critics could say that the government does not allow itself to be criticised because it wants to reap vested interest."

Instead of attacking his critics,

Abhisit

said, Thaksin should have tried to argue the allegations with reasons and details.

"He should have explained how the allegations against him were not true. If he could reasonably argue against the allegations against him, his accusers will lose credibility themselves,"

Abhisit

said.

source here

[Plus]

It's very simple, distorted information is what you post on this board.

>>>

Distorted here means knowingly posting false information. Confusing reports about Thaksin passports treaking from all around the globe is not distorted information, even if some of them turn out ot be false.

"Was Abhisit it the car?" is case distorted information, for example.

The point here is to imply that Abhisit wasn't attacked, and information is presented in misleading way to support it.

First of all - what car? Abhisit certainly was in the car at the Interior Ministry on that day. Was he in the car that was shown on TV? I never for a second believed he was inside. Have you? He left earlier.

I have no doubt that the car Abhisit left in was attacked, it was reported by the reds themselves. They've changed the tune only two weeks later.

Second - does it matter? Attackers thought he was in the car, reds are trying to present as if it was completely unrelated case. It isn't. I believe govt spokesman who say CCTV footage showed masked gunmen keeping the perimeter. He said they were waiting for reds to break into the car then shoot him. I don't know about that but it's very plausible, It was certainly not about giving hi garlands, and govt security detail should consider the worst possible scenarios.

So here it is - a perfect case of Jatuporn trying to manipulate public opinion by distorting the truth.

[HagenvonTronje]

'Prisoner swap' with UAE unlikely to net Thaksin: Foreign Ministry

BANGKOK, May 23 (TNA) - Thailand may not be able to apply a prisoner exchange principle with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to get ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra back for prosecution in Thailand as the principle only applies to similar cases, according to Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Jarungwat.

Mr. Tharit said prisoner exchanges can be done on a reciprocal basis between countries which have no extradition treaties given that the prisoners are serving jail terms on similar offences.

The ministry spokesman noted the principle was unlikely to be applied regarding an exchange of Mr. Thaksin and a Briton recently arrested in Bangkok for alleged embezzlement who is wanted in the UAE, reasoning that the cases involved different offences.

Thai police on Thursday arrested a British man in the Thai capital for allegedly embezzling US$154 million from a Dubai company. He is being held at the Criminal Court pending extradition.

However, Mr. Tharit said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier submitted an extradition request to the UAE through diplomatic channels to facilitate the forced repatriation of Mr. Thaksin.

Ousted in a September 2006 coup d’etat, Mr. Thaksin, now lives in self-imposed exile overseas, and is believed to be in the UAE.

Mr. Thaksin was earlier convicted and given a two-year jail term after he was found guilty of manipulative involvement in a Ratchadapisek land deal.

The ex-premier reportedly spends most of his time in Dubai after his visa status was rejected by the United Kingdom.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had revoked both his diplomatic and ordinary passports in an attempt to capture him.

Puea Thai MP Chalerm Yoobamrung, who recently visited Mr. Thaksin in Dubai, said Thaksin carried about six to eight passports issued by foreign countries. (TNA)

-- TNA 23.05.2009

article here

[HagenvonTronje]

Thaksin exploiting UAE, Foreign Ministry says

Published: 24/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

>>The Office of the Attorney-General yesterday called on the Foreign Ministry to remind the United Arab Emirates that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was exploiting the country for his own political ends. The fugitive ex-premier was using the UAE as a political base, said Sirisak Tiyaphan, executive director for foreign litigation at the OAG.

Puea Thai party-list MP Chalerm Yubamrung has told the media he had visited Thaksin in Dubai for consultations as the party was looking for a new leader, he said.

This goes to show that Thaksin had violated UAE's terms and conditions for abode which do not allow him to use the Gulf nation to pursue any political activities, said Mr Sirisak.

Thailand is trying to sign an extradition treaty with Hong Kong, a country which Thaksin was frequently visiting after fleeing Thailand to escape a jail sentence last year.

Mr Sirisak said the OAG and the ministry were planning to send officials to Hong Kong to conduct another round of negotiations on the issue. After learning about the planned treaty with Hong Kong, Thaksin decided not to enter the former British colony to avoid causing diplomatic problems between Thailand and China, which rules Hong Kong.

-- Bangkok Post 24/05/2009

article here

[HagenvonTronje]

FUGITIVE EX-PM

'No reciprocal deal' with UAE for Thaksin

The Nation, Published on May 24, 2009

Hand-over of Briton held in Thailand, wanted by the Arab state, ruled out

Thailand may be unable to trade fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra with a British man wanted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for embezzlement, a senior Foreign Ministry official said yesterday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Jarungwat said prisoner exchanges could be done on a reciprocal basis between countries which had no extradition treaties given that the prisoners were serving jail terms on similar offences.

Yet he said the principle was unlikely to be applied regarding an exchange of Thaksin and Briton Michael Bryan Smith, who was arrested recently in Bangkok for allegedly embezzling US$154 million (Bt5.3 billion) from a Dubai company. The Briton is being held at the Criminal Court pending extradition.

Thaksin, who is believed to be in the UAE city of Dubai, is wanted in Thailand to serve a two-year term in a corruption case involving the Ratchadaphisek land scandal.

Tharit said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier submitted an extradition request to the UAE through diplomatic channels to facilitate forced repatriation of Thaksin.

Meanwhile, Panit Vikitset, vice minister for foreign affairs, said yesterday that the UAE authorities had promised to ensure that Thaksin would not use the Middle East state as his base for political activities against Thailand.

He said Thaksin was residing in the UAE as a businessman.

In a related development, Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's former legal adviser, yesterday dismissed as untrue media reports that the ex-premier had asked the UAE to broker sending him to fight court cases in Thailand.

Noppadon said the Thai government was trying to extradite Thaksin and had sent Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot to convince the UAE not to shelter the fugitive. But the UAE is a sovereign government, and Thailand must respect its decision, he said.

"The UAE is aware that Thaksin was toppled from power in a |military coup, which is against democratic principles," Noppadon said.

-- The Nation May 24, 2009

article here

[HagenvonTronje]

note: The Nation article is taken from TNA as mentioned by the Nation here but the line "By Thai News Agency" didn't appear in the print option version, that i used to copypasta it. The Nation article is based on two seperate TNA news articles, the first is 3 entries above, the second follows below. It is partly a repeat, i know, but for the sake of completeness to bring all releated articles and to see how the same 'news' appears in the different media outlets.

...........................................................................

Former Thaksin legal adviser: UAE won't extradite ex-PM

BANGKOK, May 23 (TNA) - Noppadol Pattama, a former legal adviser to Thailand's fugitive, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on Saturday said it was untrue that the ex-premier had asked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to broker sending him to fight court cases in Thailand.

Mr. Noppadol said the Abhisit government is tryin to extradite Mr. Thaksin, and sent Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot to convince the UAE to not shelter the fugitive.

But the UAE is a sovereign government, and Thailand must respect its decision.

The UAE “realises that Mr. Thaksin was topped from power in a military coup which is against democratic principles,” Mr. Noppadol said.

Ousted in a coup in September 2006, Mr. Thaksin lives in self-imposed exile, believed to be in the UAE.

The ex-PM Thaksin was convicted and sentenced to two years jail in absentia for manipulative involvement in a Ratchadapisek land deal conducted by his then wife.

The ex-premier is said to have spent most of his exile in Dubai after his visa was revoked by Britain.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had revoked both his diplomatic and ordinary passports in an attempt to capture him.

Puea Thai MP Chalerm Yoobamrung, a recent visitor to Dubai, said the fugitive ex-PM has six to eight foreign passports. (TNA)

-- TNA 23.05.2009

article here

[HagenvonTronje]

Noppadon: Thaksin not carrying Cambodian or German passports

BANGKOK, 24 May 2009 (NNT) – Former Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama asserted that the fugitive ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not carry either Cambodian or German passports, adding that he was now residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Former Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, also former legal advisor to Mr Thaksin said his boss was still residing in Dubai of UAE. However, Mr. Noppadon asserted that he did not carry passports of Cambodia and Germany as reported in the news. Mr Noppadon elaborated that his boss was now mostly using passport of Montenegro, where he was dealing to buy property from that country.

Mr Noppadon added that there were many countries offering passports and visa for his boss, claiming that even a powerful European country had also offered him resident visa. However, Mr Thaksin had refused to accept that deeming that what he had was enough. The former Minister said the number of passports that Mr. Thaksin had was resulted from his frequent business trips.

He said these offers came after the ruling of Supreme Court of Justice Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions that earlier judged Mr Thaksin guilty in Ratchada land case. Mr Noppadon said these already reflected that international community did understand that the case was politically motivated from the abrupt power seizure. He added that his boss was recently invited to be an expert in tourism by a President of a country.

In regards to the attempt of the Government asking Hong Kong to extradite Mr. Thaksin back to Thailand for legal trials, Mr. Noppadon said Hong Kong authority had already replied that the request could not be carried out since Hong Kong was a free country with no extradition treaty with Thailand. The former Foreign Minister asked the media to confirm this matter with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva if he had received the reply or not.

-- NNT 24 May 2009

article here

[sabaijai]

Thaksin 'carries 6 passports'

Published: 22/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Thaksin Shinawatra is now carrying six passports issued by foreign countries, Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung says.

Mr Chalerm recently visited the former prime minister in Dubai but was unable to give details of which countries had issued Thaksin with the passports.

Nicaragua reportedly issued Thaksin with a diplomatic passport when he was selected to promote the country's trade and investment.

Thaksin may also have obtained a passport from Montenegro. Mr Chalerm yesterday confirmed Thaksin planned to buy an island off the Montenegrin coast in the Adriatic Sea.

Thaksin often travelled from place to place in a helicopter he bought from the owner of the luxury Harrods store in London, Mr Chalerm said.

cont'd here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1...ies-6-passports

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-22

[HagenvonTronje]

Thaksin 'carries 6 passports'

Published: 22/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Thaksin Shinawatra is now carrying six passports issued by foreign countries, Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung says.

Mr Chalerm recently visited the former prime minister in Dubai but was unable to give details of which countries had issued Thaksin with the passports.

...

cont'd here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1...ies-6-passports

bangkokpost 2009-05-22

German embassy denies giving Thaksin passport

By: Bangkok Post and Agencies

Published: 22/05/2009 at 02:26 PM

The German embassy on Friday denied local reports that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is said to have six foreign passports, has been issued a German passport.

"Mr Thaksin Shinawatra does not hold a German passport," German embassy spokesman Theodor Proffe said.

Some local newspapers published stories on Friday quoting Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung as saying that Thaksin is passports issued by six countries, including Germany and Cambodia.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thaksin did not have a Cambodian passport.

...

hmm, fine example how the thai media works.

obviously the story of the german passport is only a rumour. but can it be actually tracked down to Chalerm himself or is it just a fabrication, a fantasy of the local press? i guess the later. that this rumour get official denied is made to a big headline. fleetingly readed the reader is left with the impression that thaksin or chamlern was talking some BS. but actually is that BS just coming from the media itself.

[webfact]

Thaksin 'carries 6 passports'

Published: 22/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Thaksin Shinawatra is now carrying six passports issued by foreign countries, Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung says.

Mr Chalerm recently visited the former prime minister in Dubai but was unable to give details of which countries had issued Thaksin with the passports.

Nicaragua reportedly issued Thaksin with a diplomatic passport when he was selected to promote the country's trade and investment.

Thaksin may also have obtained a passport from Montenegro. Mr Chalerm yesterday confirmed Thaksin planned to buy an island off the Montenegrin coast in the Adriatic Sea.

Thaksin often travelled from place to place in a helicopter he bought from the owner of the luxury Harrods store in London, Mr Chalerm said.

cont'd here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1...ies-6-passports

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-22

One more passport is needed then he has a passport for every day of the week...

Never heard such BS before - 6 passports! Who was drunk when this statement was made?

[samgrowth]

Thaksin 'carries 6 passports'

Published: 22/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Thaksin Shinawatra is now carrying six passports issued by foreign countries, Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung says.

Mr Chalerm recently visited the former prime minister in Dubai but was unable to give details of which countries had issued Thaksin with the passports.

Nicaragua reportedly issued Thaksin with a diplomatic passport when he was selected to promote the country's trade and investment.

Thaksin may also have obtained a passport from Montenegro. Mr Chalerm yesterday confirmed Thaksin planned to buy an island off the Montenegrin coast in the Adriatic Sea.

Thaksin often travelled from place to place in a helicopter he bought from the owner of the luxury Harrods store in London, Mr Chalerm said.

cont'd here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1...ies-6-passports

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-22

One more passport is needed then he has a passport for every day of the week...

Never heard such BS before - 6 passports! Who was drunk when this statement was made?

Is he trying to get into guinesses book of record?

[HagenvonTronje]

Minister of Foreign Affairs continues to seek extradition of Mr Thaksin from UAE

BANGKOK, 30 June 2009 (NNT) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs has made plans to renew talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the extradition of fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Reports have indicated that Puea Thai party MPs will travel to the UAE to meet with ousted Prime Minister Thaksin and celebrate the party's recent by-election wins. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya stated however that Thailand had not let up efforts to seek the extradition of Mr Thaksin and had continually submitted information on his legal status to the UAE.

Mr Kasit noted that during the upcoming ASEAN-GCC Summit, he will most likely bring up the issue during his meeting with the UAE foreign minister. The talks will be the first instance of the matter being raised at the ministerial level. Previously, the issue has only been handled by the assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

-- NNT 30 June 2009

article here

[HagenvonTronje]

UAE set to pounce on Thaksin

By: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

Published: 1/07/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

MANAMA : The United Arab Emirates has promised to expel ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and send him to Thailand if he is found in Dubai. While the two countries do not have an extradition treaty, there is a reciprocal arrangement that allows for the exchange of fugitives.

The issue was raised in talks yesterday between Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Bahrain.

Mr Kasit said Thailand had already sent six fugitives to the UAE as requested by Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Abdullah admitted Thaksin had stayed in Dubai, Mr Kasit said.

... continue here

-- Bangkok Post 1/07/2009

[HagenvonTronje]

PM Abhisit says ousted premier should return to Thailand, serve sentence

BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday he had heard that convicted, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is now living in an Asian country and suggested that the ex-premier should return to Thailand and serve his jail sentence.

Mr. Abhisit said he had received information from the secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya that Mr. Thaksin had left Dubai and is now staying in an Asian country but he still has no details.

The former premier, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, should refrain from doing anything to threaten Thailand’s security, Mr. Abhisit asserted. Mr. Thaksin should not break the law.

Thailand will seek Mr. Thaksin’s extradition if he is staying in a country which has an extradition agreement with the kingdom, Mr. Abhisit warned.

The prime minister said he was not worried in the event that Mr. Thaksin wanted to return home because he, Mr. Abhisit himself, had suggested earlier that the ex-premier should return and receive “punishment.”

Mr. Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail by the Supreme Court last year for helping his then wife buy prime land in central Bangkok at a discounted price while he was prime minister.

Asked whether his government is sincere in returning Mr. Thaksin to receive a jail sentence, Mr. Abhisit said it is best if the former prime minister comes back to receive the punishment as it would demonstrate that in Thailand “no one is above the law.”

He said that a number of projects undertaken by the Thaksin government, including housing for low-income earners, had created problems, and that corruption charges are still pending with the Office of the National Counter Corruption Commission for several cases. (TNA)

-- TNA June 30, 2009

article here

[BigSnake]

Thaksin Where are you?

[HagenvonTronje]

Mr. Abhisit said he had received information from the secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya that Mr. Thaksin had left Dubai and is now staying in an Asian country but he still has no details.

article here

Thaksin Where are you?

TOC NEWS

Attorney-General for Foreign Affairs Denies Report of Thaksin Being in Asia

UPDATE : 29 June 2009

An attorney-general tasked with foreign affairs ministry revealed he has not received any confirmation regarding that former Prime Minister Thaksin is now hiding in Asia.

Sirisak Tiyaphan, director-general of office of attorney-general of foreign litigation said he has not received confirmation, from the Foreign Affairs Ministry or from the police tasked with determining Thaksin's whereabouts, regarding a report that Thaksin is now residing in Asia.

He added that so far, all the Foreign Affairs Ministry can confirm is that Thaksin has stayed in the United Arab Emirates and Nicaragua.

The Ministry has sent verbal notes asking for cooperation in apprehending Thaksin from the two countries, but to no avail.

Sirisak said the possibility of having Thaksin tried on Thai soil before his conviction expires depends mainly on efforts to have a bilateral extradition treaty drawn up between Thailand and the countries where Thaksin has been hiding.

He added that Thai authorities were currently in cooperation with the Canadian government to have Ragues Saksena, who was charged with committing fraud while holding the post of consultant to the CEO of the now-defunct Bangkok Bank of Commerce, extradited back to Thailand.

A Canadian court earlier ruled that Ragues must be tried under Thai jurisdiction, but Ragues appealed the ruling. The Supreme Court of Canada will consider his appeal on Aug 12.

If the Supreme Court finds that he must be tried in Thailand, Ragues will have no legal means left to delay the trial and Thai authorities will have 45 days to arrange for his extradition.

Ragues was charged with more than ten counts of fraud and the charges are set to expire in 2010. If he is sent back to Thailand, Sirisak said the legal proceedings against him can start immediately.

-- Tan Network 29 June 2009

article here

[ratcatcher]

So, Thaksin may be in the Gulf states or Asia.

He could be in Ulan Bator for all I care but the question is "Will he be more dangerous if he comes back to Thailand"?

He is whingeing and crying about being lonely out there in the desert, well maybe that's where he's destined to roam for the rest of his life, with his pack of hyaenas to defend him.

If he is allowed to come back to Thailand or is forcibly brought back, there will be a welcoming committee at Suwanapoom the likes of which Michael Jackson never saw.

People will be prostrating themselves before him as he wais his way into his Mercedes limousine.

Better anywhere than here.