Fugitive Thaksin Seeks Safety From Extradition In Fiji

[animatic]

Malaysia protects me because they love me: Thaksin

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed Monday that he had stayed overnight in Malaysia and had been provided with special-branch police security.

"My private jet stopped for refuelling in Malaysia and they sent 20 special-branch policemen to guard me. They love and care about me," Thaksin said in a phone-in to FM 97.5 Udon Lovers community radio station yesterday morning.

-- The Nation 2009-07-13

Thaksin was never here: Inspector-General of Malaysian Police

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now a fugitive, was never in Malaysia nor was he given any protection by the Special Branch as he has claimed, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said.

Musa said Malaysian police had no knowledge of any visit by Thaksin, despite earlier reports quoting Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam as saying Thaksin had been spotted in Malaysia recently, but left the country before he could be arrested by the authorities.

Thaworn said Thai embassy officials had informed the Malaysian authorities to seek Thaksin’s arrest and extradition.

“We were only alerted by the Thai embassy here of the fugitive’s supposed presence early this month following a news report in Bangkok.

“As far as we are concerned, he was never in the country and we did not send 20 Special Branch officers to protect him. We have checked with local hotels, Immigration and other sources, and there is no evidence to show that he was ever here,’’ he said.

According to a report in Bangkok-based newspaper The Nation, Thaksin told a community radio that his private jet stopped in Kuala Lumpur on July 4 for refuelling and that 20 Special Branch officers were sent to protect him.

“They love and care about me,” Thaksin said in the newspaper report which was also picked up by a Malaysian news portal.

- The Star (Malaysia) / 2009-07-14

Sounds a bit more like:

Plane landed in KL to refuel.

Pilots were tired and so they slept past midnight; 'over night'.

Security officers surrounded the plane not allowing any exit.

Preventing Thaksin from 'officially entering Malaysia',

and rather than have an airport shoot out with his bodyguards

they just let the problem fly off again.

Next morning the took off again.

And let Noppadom muddy the waters more.

How can an EGO get so far gone that he can

think the special branch of ANOTHER nation's constabulary can "love and care" for him????

It's a fairly rare muslim that gives toss over ANY budhhist politician,

let a lone LOVE!

[abdulrahman]

Sounds a bit more like:

Plane landed in KL to refuel.

Pilots were tired and so they slept past midnight; 'over night'.

Security officers surrounded the plane not allowing any exit.

Preventing Thaksin from 'officially entering Malaysia',

and rather than have an airport shoot out with his bodyguards

they just let the problem fly off again.

Next morning the took off again.

And let Noppadom muddy the waters more.

How can an EGO get so far gone that he can

think the special branch of ANOTHER nation's constabulary can "love and care" for him????

It's a fairly rare muslim that gives toss over ANY budhhist politician,

let a lone LOVE!

Sounds plausible to me.(especially the last line)

Nobody will believe your version!Where is the drama?

[LaoPo]

Malaysia protects me because they love me: Thaksin

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed Monday that he had stayed overnight in Malaysia and had been provided with special-branch police security.

"My private jet stopped for refuelling in Malaysia and they sent 20 special-branch policemen to guard me. They love and care about me," Thaksin said in a phone-in to FM 97.5 Udon Lovers community radio station yesterday morning.

-- The Nation 2009-07-13

Thaksin was never here: Inspector-General of Malaysian Police

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now a fugitive, was never in Malaysia nor was he given any protection by the Special Branch as he has claimed, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said.

“We were only alerted by the Thai embassy here of the fugitive’s supposed presence early this month following a news report in Bangkok.

“As far as we are concerned, he was never in the country and we did not send 20 Special Branch officers to protect him. We have checked with local hotels, Immigration and other sources, and there is no evidence to show that he was ever here,’’ he said.

- The Star (Malaysia) / 2009-07-14

So much for "Malaysia protects me because they love me"....

When even the head cop calls him a "fugitive," it's not exactly a term of endearment.

As for...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thaksin-Spec...io-t280224.html

Thaksin: Special Security Protection For Me In Malaysia, Thaksin confirmed that he had stayed overnight

it looks like, once again, Thaksin's been caught out in telling porkies...

...and the Thai Government as well in case you forgot to tell that it was them in the first place, informing the public that he was in Malaysia and escaped, right ?

LaoPo

[sriracha john]

Malaysia protects me because they love me: Thaksin

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

Thaksin was never here: Inspector-General of Malaysian Police

it looks like, once again, Thaksin's been caught out in telling porkies..

...and the Thai Government as well

in the first place, informing the public that he was in Malaysia and escaped, right ?

LaoPo

as well as trusted sidekick and habitual liar...

Former Thai President, Thaksin, visits Tonga

Nuku'alofa, Tonga: THAILAND'S former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in Tonga earlier this week and met with HM King George Tupou V and Princess Pilolevu Tuita.

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

Thaksin's lawyer, Noppadon Pattama,

denied that Thaksin had visited Tonga

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

Even for a lawyer, Noppadon seems to exceed their normally excessive limits for falsehoods.

Noppadon: Thaksin did visit Malaysia

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra did spend a night in Malaysia, his legal adviser Noppadon Pattama confirmed on Tuesday.

Noppadon said Thaksin told him that his plane landed at Kuala Lumpur to refuel and he left for Fiji the following day.

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 7/07/2009 at 04:11 PM

Edited July 14, 2009 by sriracha john

[LaoPo]

as well as trusted sidekick and habitual liar...

They're all liars John...all of them; maybe you should concentrate on the ones who are honest. An honest politician...lawyer perhaps ?

But, that would be a Mission Impossible, wouldn't it ?

A task, hardly enjoyable for you I imagine. How comfortable would that be, a thread about an honest, 100% to be trusted and corruption-free Politician in Thailand. Isn't that something to dream about instead of posting all that miserable news, day-in-day-out?

You think that would be possible ?

LaoPo

[brahmburgers]

Interesting that Malaysians would love T - the one man most responsible for the torturous deaths of nearly 100 young Muslim men in southern Thailand. Shortly before the Tak Bai tragedy, Thaksin (then PM) publicly announced that he would be fully in charge of any incidents that unfold regarding the southern unrest.

[sriracha john]

'No Thaksin protection'

BANGKOK - FORMER Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who fled the country after being handed a two-year jail term for graft, claimed he was given police security when he stayed overnight in Malaysia earlier this month. But this was flatly denied by the Malaysian police yesterday evening.

'My private jet stopped for refuelling in Malaysia and they sent 20 Special Branch policemen to guard me,' Thaksin said in a phone-in to a community radio station on Monday. 'They love and care about me.'

The Thai authorities had said earlier that the billionaire was in Malaysia on July 4 and had left the next day for Fiji before Thai police could take action. He reportedly ended his island-hopping in the South Pacific and flew back to Dubai last Friday.

But Malaysia's police chief Musa Hassan refuted Thaksin's claims. 'We were alerted by the Thai Embassy here of the fugitive's supposed presence early this month following a news report in Bangkok.

'As far as we are concerned, he was never in the country and we did not send 20 Special Branch officers to protect him. We have checked with local hotels, immigration and other sources, and there is no evidence to show that he was ever here.'

Thaksin has been in self-exile since he was convicted of corruption charges, and the Thai authorities have been trying to have him extradited to serve his jail sentence. Thailand had asked the Fijian government to arrest him after learning he was there, but it has no extradition treaty with Fiji.

- Straits Times (Malaysia) / 2009-07-15

[sriracha john]

Malaysia protects me because they love me: Thaksin

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed Monday that he had stayed overnight in Malaysia and had been provided with special-branch police security.

"My private jet stopped for refuelling in Malaysia and they sent 20 special-branch policemen to guard me. They love and care about me," Thaksin said in a phone-in to FM 97.5 Udon Lovers community radio station yesterday morning.

-- The Nation 2009-07-13

Thaksin was never here: Inspector-General of Malaysian Police

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now a fugitive, was never in Malaysia nor was he given any protection by the Special Branch as he has claimed, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said.

“We were only alerted by the Thai embassy here of the fugitive’s supposed presence early this month following a news report in Bangkok.

“As far as we are concerned, he was never in the country and we did not send 20 Special Branch officers to protect him. We have checked with local hotels, Immigration and other sources, and there is no evidence to show that he was ever here,’’ he said.

- The Star (Malaysia) / 2009-07-14

So much for "Malaysia protects me because they love me"....

When even the head cop calls him a "fugitive," it's not exactly a term of endearment.

As for...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thaksin-Spec...io-t280224.html

Thaksin: Special Security Protection For Me In Malaysia, Thaksin confirmed that he had stayed overnight

it looks like, once again, Thaksin's been caught out in telling porkies...

Odd how some keep going on and on in that other thread, some apparently unaware that the Top Cop says he never arrived nor that other country's officials are calling Thaksin a "fugitive" and not welcoming him with open arms.... besides the previously discussed less-than-optimal countries.

Edited July 15, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Malaysian police chief denies fugitive Thai politician ever came

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's top police officer on Tuesday denied reports that Thai former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was welcomed by a special police escort in Kuala Lumpur, saying there is no proof that the fugitive former politician was in the country.

"We were only alerted by the Thai embassy here of the fugitive's supposed presence early this month following a news report in Bangkok," said police chief Musa Hassan.

"As far as we are concerned, he was never in the country and we did not send 20 Special Branch officers to protect him."

"We have checked with local hotels, Immigration, and other sources, and there is no evidence to show that he was ever here," Musa was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.

Thai media reports quoted Thaksin as saying he was escorted by 20 special branch officers when his private jet stopped over for refuelling in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month.

Thaksin's plane reportedly stopped for refuelling in Kuala Lumpur on July 4 and departed the next day for Fiji. On Friday, he reportedly returned to Dubai, where the billionaire ex-premier has been living in self-imposed exile since losing his Thai passport in April.

-- DPA 2009-07-14

[hammered]

Thaksins little PR/propoganda move is over. It achieved what he wanted in getting Thai media to advertise him along with some quotes of being protected and loved by Malaysia (obvious BS). Now on to the next one whatever it will be.

A night in New Delhi maybe even if he never leaves Dubai.

And all the time the clock is ticking towards asset seizure case day. We should be in for some more ultra-drama around that time as it is unlikely he will want to see his dosh officially seized and used to fund government projects. Wonder what he and his gangs have in store this time. It is noticeable that team red now just talk Thaksin and organise Thaksin events. The politcal ideology has dispappeared which is nice as listening to them claim a serial extra-judicial killer as a paragon of democracy was ridiculous.

Edited July 15, 2009 by hammered

[sriracha john]

Malaysian Police: Thaksin Has Never Come to Malaysia

Following a claim that fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was given special treatment by Malaysian police while he was in Kuala Lumpur recently, the national police of Malaysia insisted that Thaksin had not entered the country and the police did not provide any protection to the ousted premier.

The Malaysian website called 'The Star dot com' reported that Tan Sri Musa Hussien, a senior police officer of Malaysia stated that the fugitive ex-premier, Thaksin Shinawatra had never entered the country and said that the Malaysian authorities did not provide him with any VIP protection. This is in responding to the fact that Thailand's Deputy Interior Minister, Thaworn Senneam, said earlier that Thaksin had narrowly escaped the Malaysian police.

The Malaysian police official also added that officials from the Thai embassy have asked Malaysian authorities to arrest Thaksin and extradite him.

Consequently, the Malaysian police have checked every hotel and immigration records, but found no proof that the ex-premier had come to Malaysia.

Reports in 'The Nation' newspaper in Thailand reveal that Thaksin boasted during his phone-in that he had visited Malaysia on July 4, traveling by private jet and claimed that he received full protection the whole time he was there.

'The Gulf Time' website of Qartar has also quoted Thaksin's interview with the media in which he stated that he had received protection from Malaysian police officials as well.

The ex-premier reportedly had a stop-over in Malaysia on July 4, before traveling to the Pacific country of Fiji the following day, and returned to Dubai on Friday, July 10.

-- Tan Network 2009-07-15

[sriracha john]

Why did Thailand’s former PM travel to Fiji?

Media reports claim Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Thailand’s richest men, departed Malaysia just ahead of arrest warrants and made his way by private jet to

Fiji, where he entered the country under an assumed name known to authorities. He later met with Fiji’s leader Frank Bainimarama and advisors.

Fiji and Thailand have no extradition treaties, fueling speculation that Thaksin traveled to the Pacific looking for asylum. Before Thai officials asked Fiji to return the fugitive leader, Thaksin left for Tonga. Rumors persist he eventually made his way to Port Vila, Vanuatu while leaders of the four-country Melanesian Spearhead Group heard Frank Bainimarama’s five-year plan to write a new constitution and electoral law before holding elections.

The Vanuatu trip has not been confirmed. Thakin’s laywers claims he is not searching sanctuary; he is looking for investment opportunities.

First elected Prime Minister in a 2001 landslide, Thaksin's time in office was punctuated by allegations of serious corruption (often at high personal gain), authoritarianism, human rights abuses and electoral fraud.

A government body froze $2.2 billion of his assets in Thailand. In October 2008, Thailand’s Supreme Court convicted him (in abstensia) of abuse of power, mostly relating to pushing through laws aiding family members' business interests. He was sentenced to two years, but has not visited his homeland since August 2008 to serve the sentence.

Earlier this year, Thaksin, who usually lives in Dubai, again ran afoul of Thai authorities when they accused him of directly supporting anti-government protests that turned violent. After protesters clashed with the military, the government revoked his passport, and Thaksin allegedly travels on a passport from Montenegro.

Fiji has been increasingly politically and economically isolated since April, when the country’s President annulled the constitution and provided the military leader (who himself came to power via a December 2006 coup) with a five-year mandate.

Since then, Fiji’s government has imposed a series of emergency regulations, aimed at controlling assembly and censoring the media. Thus, people inside and outside the country have come to rely on blogs for Fiji political information.

Cour Four Point Five reports:

[Thaksin] flew into Suva in his Learjet for a secret meeting with prime minister and military commander Frank Bainimarama on Monday.

The meeting - held in Bainimarama's office - was confirmed by Major Neumi Leweni, who said a business prosposal was discussed at lunch.

It's understood the Thai leader wants to invest $300 million in Fiji.

In return, it's expected he'd be assured safety from extradition - authorities in Thailand are trying to get him back to Bangkok, where he faces two years in jail for abuse of power.

The blog Musings from Thailand wonders if Thaksin’s ends justify his means by meeting Bainiarama.

What a paradox. Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted by a coup in Thailand in 2006, flew into Fiji's capital, Suva, yesterday to meet another coup leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who staged a coup in the same year — only to be ruled illegal by the court there.

In some ways, when Thaksin shook hands with Bainimarama to talk about his plan to invest $300 million in that South Pacific island, he must have been reminded of Gen Sonthi Bunyaratakalin, whose coup sent him out of the country almost three years ago. Both the Thai and Fijian military officers weren't supposed to be politically ambitious. Both had been living low-profile lives before they decided to push out the elected, civilian governments. Suddenly, they declared themselves defenders of their respective countries' political stability and to fight rampant corruption.

Thaksin has spoken vehemently against military coups in Thailand. He has called for the return of electoral democracy, even ready to stake his life on his determination to put an end to future coups.

Now, he has gone to Fiji to cozy up to one of the most controversial coup leaders in the region.

Soli Vakasama, from Fiji, offers guidance.

This is an advice to you Mr Thaksin as you are also a victim of military coup stay away from Bainimarama or you will suffer the consequences.

The Thai blog Connecting the Dots questions whether the former leader would be able to refrain from politics – a common demand of those who grant asylum.

When it comes to the issue of asylum political or other, that option is off the table for him for the moment anyway. For him to accept asylum means clipping his wings, and for the moment that is totally unacceptable. Thaksin’s goal is to regain his position as Prime Minister of Thailand, then make his enemies disappear forever. Then followed shortly after by stuffing his pockets.

Political asylum requires a few sacrifices to be made on the asylum seekers part. The first one and most significant is not to leave the country that is granting asylum. Once the person leaves the country protection could not be offered as they would be out of that country’s jurisdiction.

The second thing is the asylum seeker must become politically inactive or the asylum could be withdrawn. Once again this is not an option for Thaksin.

For Thaksin to give up anything is not his style so for the moment staying one step ahead of the people that are pursuing him is the game of today. So to travel under a false name or to visit countries that leaders think like him are Thaksin’s only options at the moment.

Thaksin would only accept political asylum if he were truly beat, but even then it may be like his April 2006 I quit story pulling a fast one.

Thailand’s press – and the media throughout the Pacific – provided near daily accounts of Thaksin supposed narrow escape from police in Kuala Lumpur before jetting to Fiji.

Many, but certainly not all, Fiji’s bloggers oppose the Bainimarama government. A post from Fiji Democracy Now on the blog Raw Fiji News sums up allegations of government criminality.

This was the story about how our dictator, Frank Bainimarama, met secretly with the fugitive former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. There is something very unsettling about the news that an international fugitive of justice such as Shinawatra was officially received at taxpayer expense by the current government of Fiji.

It’s confirmation that our dictator, Frank Bainimarama, turns a blind eye to criminality. And it confirms that if criminality suits his purposes, he will happily embrace it.

The criminal acts of Shinawatra and his wife, Potjaman, while he was Prime Minister of Thailand have been well documented by Thai courts of law, which saw fit to sentence Shinawatra to jail for corruption.

Yet the dictator greeted the Thai criminal like a visiting dignitary despite the fact that Shinawatra was in criminal mode, travelling under an alias on a Montenegro passport, as criminals do.

It was a meeting of two criminals who could help each other.

Fiji’s bloggers point out the financial incentive of their cash-strapped government courting such a person.

Here is where we enter allegation territory. Coup Four Point Five and Raw Fiji News report that Thaksin may be interested in developing the Grand Pacific Hotel, a colonial building constructed in 1912 on the sea front near the edge of Suva’s downtown. The building has long been slated for restoration, but plans have continually fallen through. It now houses a garrison of soldiers, who guard government buildings across the street.

From Coup Four Point Five:

It's understood a deal was struck for Shinawatra to buy the derelict Grand Pacific Hotel at the meeting.

The GPH was supposed to have been developed into Suva's top hotel by FNPF and Fiji Investment Corporation.

Coup Four Point Five has been told Shinawatra handed over a cheque for $250,000 to [Head of Fiji National Provident Fund John] Prasad, reportedly a deposit for the deal. But it's believed the cheque wasn't deposited into the FNPF account by Prasad until today.

From Raw Fiji News:

It appears Thaksin’s Fiji venture has a probable hidden agenda. Thailand press speculated that Thaksin is bargaining for a safe haven for exile in Fiji and the final investment sum may never materialize given Fiji’s nose diving economy.

- Global Voices Online

Edited July 20, 2009 by sriracha john