Thai Foreign Ministry Revokes Passports Of Fugitive Red-Shirts Leaders

[webfact]

Foreign Ministry revokes passports of fugitive reds leaders

BANGKOK: -- Foreign Ministry revoked passports of nine runaway red shirts leaders at the request of police.

Thanee Thongpakdee, deputy ministry spokesman said that the revocations were on line with the the court's issuing of arrest warrants on the group following the political crisis in March and April.

The revocation takes effect immediately, Thanee said but declined to reveal the names.

However a police source revealed the nine as

1. Arisamun Pongruengrong

2. Suporn Attawongse

3. Payap Pankaet

4. Pol Lt Col Wapot Apornrat

5. Adisorn Piengket, Aree Krainara,

6. Chinawat Haboonpat

7. Aree Krainara

8. Kanyapak Maneejak

9. Samruen Prachamrue

-- The Nation 2010-10-27

[rubl]

I assume this is just following through the juridical process? Going ever so slowly in Thailand, but reaching a next stage now after five months ?

It is normal to revoke passports or is it related to the accusation of terrorism which is a bit more stiff than defamation, corruption or even LM?

[webfact]

REDS LEADERS

Nine red-shirt leaders lose their passports

By The Nation

The Foreign Ministry yesterday revoked the passports of nine fugitive red-shirt leaders as requested by police, the ministry's deputy spokesman Thanee Thongpakdee said.

He explained that the revocation, with immediate effect, was in line with the court-issued arrest warrants for the nine key red shirts involved in the March-April political unrest.

According to a police source, those who lose their passports are Arisman Pongruangrong, Suporn Atthawong, Payap Panket, Wapot Apornrat, Adisorn Piengket, Aree Krainara, Chinawat Haboonpat, Kanyapak Maneejak and Samruen Prachamrue.

All of them are at large, with some believed to be hiding in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, PM's Office Minister Ong-art Klampaiboon said the Foreign Ministry would cooperate with Cambodian authorities about Arisman after reports that he had been given a visa to enter that country. He said further information from Cambodia was needed to confirm the report.

-- The Nation 2010-10-28

[OzMick]

Does this actually achieve anything? None of the fugitives are likely to present their passport to a Thai border post, and if, for example, they tried to cross from Cambodia to Viet Nam, would the immigration officers know that the passport has been cancelled?

[MikeyIdea]

Does this actually achieve anything? None of the fugitives are likely to present their passport to a Thai border post, and if, for example, they tried to cross from Cambodia to Viet Nam, would the immigration officers know that the passport has been cancelled?

It does in 2 ways actually

1) As you say, the fugitives could still go from Cambodia to Vietnam and to many other places, on existing visas, but renewing Visas would soon become problematic. Procedures for communication of issues like these are in place and Min of Foreign Affairs do communicate to related parties in other countries.

2) This forces fugitives to use illegal means of getting visas etc. Very good because that is a criminal offence. They never got Al Capone for all the murders but they got him for tax evasion - same result - Jail. If e.g. Arisman were arrested travelling on falsified documentation, then that is undisputedly a criminal offence

I should add: Thaksin is way too smart to go down that path, he got a citizenship and a passport from another country instead

Edited October 28, 2010 by MikeyIdea

[Bagwan]

Should we now assume that these 9 will now apply to Montenegro, Venezuela, Zambia and/or Sudan for one of their little books that facilitate foreign travel? 

[chantorn]

Should we now assume that these 9 will now apply to Montenegro, Venezuela, Zambia and/or Sudan for one of their little books that facilitate foreign travel?

What about Timbuktu?

[chuang]

Out of curiosity, can a country revokes it's citizen passports and on what ground...

[SergeiY]

Out of curiosity, can a country revokes it's citizen passports and on what ground...

Yes, to restrict your abilities to travel abroad in case the law enforcement is looking for you.

[rubl]

Out of curiosity, can a country revokes it's citizen passports and on what ground...

From wikipedia:

"Most countries declare by law that passports are government property, and may be limited or revoked at any time, usually on specified grounds. A limitation or a revocation is generally subject to judicial review."

No details on which juridical grounds. Still wikipedia haa a few 'A versus B' cases from USA, Canada. Google/Yahoo for more.

[dutchweller]

Should we now assume that these 9 will now apply to Montenegro, Venezuela, Zambia and/or Sudan for one of their little books that facilitate foreign travel?

What about Timbuktu?

Timbuktu is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation of Mali not an country.

[SWW]

Out of curiosity, can a country revokes it's citizen passports and on what ground...

I believe that a passport actually belongs to the government of the country that issued it, and it even says within its pages that it is the property of the government and can be revoked at any time. Try reading the small print in your own passport - it can be enlightening.

[hanuman1]

Just out of interest, I'd like to know what exactly these 'Red Leaders' are leading? Every week we hear of 'red leader(s)' saying this or doing that and they always seem to be different people (apart from obviously well known ones like Arisman).

So does anyone know how many 'red leaders' there really are in Thailand and what, as leaders, is each one's constituency or role? There seem to be an awful lot. Cheers for shedding any light on this.

[chantorn]

Should we now assume that these 9 will now apply to Montenegro, Venezuela, Zambia and/or Sudan for one of their little books that facilitate foreign travel?

What about Timbuktu?

Timbuktu is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation of Mali not an country.

Thanks for your info.

I always thought it is a software that my mom used to track on me.

[thequaife]

Does this actually achieve anything? None of the fugitives are likely to present their passport to a Thai border post, and if, for example, they tried to cross from Cambodia to Viet Nam, would the immigration officers know that the passport has been cancelled?

It does in 2 ways actually

1) As you say, the fugitives could still go from Cambodia to Vietnam and to many other places, on existing visas, but renewing Visas would soon become problematic. Procedures for communication of issues like these are in place and Min of Foreign Affairs do communicate to related parties in other countries.

2) This forces fugitives to use illegal means of getting visas etc. Very good because that is a criminal offence. They never got Al Capone for all the murders but they got him for tax evasion - same result - Jail. If e.g. Arisman were arrested travelling on falsified documentation, then that is undisputedly a criminal offence

I should add: Thaksin is way too smart to go down that path, he got a citizenship and a passport from another country instead

These guys will get caught. They dont have enough cash to support themselve. The authority and involved country knows about their presence. It is a matter of when they are running out budget.

[thequaife]

Should we now assume that these 9 will now apply to Montenegro, Venezuela, Zambia and/or Sudan for one of their little books that facilitate foreign travel?

What about Timbuktu?

Timbuktu is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation of Mali not an country.

Thanks for your info.

I always thought it is a software that my mom used to track on me.

Timbuktu was used in Donald Duck comic series as the very last place on earth.

[asiawatcher]

Does this actually achieve anything? None of the fugitives are likely to present their passport to a Thai border post, and if, for example, they tried to cross from Cambodia to Viet Nam, would the immigration officers know that the passport has been cancelled?

It is really a token gesture but may have the affect of stopping flight from Thailand. If any of them are overseas - then of course they just become overstays and need to just blend in to their new environment or try to cross the border here and do the same thing - blend in or be arrested. Shouldn't be too hard until their ego's kick in...

[Buchholz]

Thailand: Red Shirt leaders in Cambodia

BANGKOK -- Cambodia says it will agree to Thailand's request to investigate allegations fugitive Red Shirt leaders wanted on arrest warrants are hiding in Cambodia. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's request after the two met during the 17th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits being held in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Bangkok Post reported Friday. "Yes, we discussed about this matter in principle," Abhisit said after the 15-minute meeting.

Thailand wants Cambodian authorities to arrest fugitive Red Shirt leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. Key Red Shirt leaders allegedly fled to Cambodia after the government used troops to end the long protests in Bangkok May 19.

Continues:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/10/29/Thailand-Red-Shirt-leaders-in-Cambodia/UPI-88351288397802/

UPI - October 29, 2010