Thaksin To Attend Human Rights Violation Hearing In US

[SkyHigh]

so.. according to Thaksin haters' logic, Thaksin is a criminal, a terrorist, a corrupted politican.

and arh.. what more. Oh Thaksin bribed everyone and can only lived in a poor money-hungry milijunta country.

If he actually lands in US, I wonder what they say.

I hope they wont say US get paid by Thaksin.

And hey, how's going with interpols lately ? You haters said he financed the blk men ?

How intelligent. lol.

[ballpoint]

Perhaps some kind American publicist or lawyer might volunteer his services, on a pro-bono basis naturally, to translate for & assist Dr Thaksin in explaining the money-trails which financed the arsonists & grenade-throwers ?

Can any TV-poster think of some such person, who might assist ?

How about the examination committee at the Sam Houston State University? After all, surely they understood the answers to his oral examination well enough to award him a PhD in Criminology.

[pacovl46]

I hope they will arrest and extradite him to Thailand after the hearing so the f...face can go to jail where it belongs!

[hardy1943]

I am a working person with no criminal record, still USA refuse my tourist visa application. How can Thaksin get a visa? Thaksin has no job, plus has a criminal record.

Just about all where refused under the Bush. I have a friend that got one in 5 minutes in Chiang Mai and good for 10 years but it was under the new Obama administration. She is a nurse.

It was told it is very important what your job is. I hope this helps you.

[buzz]

I wonder if Thaksin will 'sponser' a few of his Black-Shirts militia to go with with him to testify how they were mis-treated when they caused the peaceful demo to explode by opening up on the thai troops ?

[TheyCallmeScooter]

US politicians are a world different than their SE Asian counterparts. SE Asian VIPs are so steeped in 'saving face' and other politecisms (my word) that they can't even speak out frankly about Burma. US politicians, on the other hand, rise to the opportunity to speak frankly. Thaksin will wither like a string bean in a blast furnace. I hope it's televised.

I wish Senator McCain was on the Helsinki Commission. He would make Thaksin sob like a schoolgirl. In a speech to the Senate floor in 2003:

"Under Thaksin, Thailand has moved aggressively to deepen Thai business ties with Burma, provide substantial economic assistance to the junta, collaborate with the Burmese military against Burmese ethnic groups who oppose rule by the generals, arrest and repatriate exiled Burmese democrats across the Thai-Burma border, and pursue a policy of cooperation and conciliation with a regime that is opposed by the vast majority of its people and known to much of the world as an outlaw.

Bangkok's coddling of Rangoon has gone well beyond passive acceptance of the regime next door to something approaching active sponsorship of the junta. Thailand has made no effort to reach out to the Burmese opposition, which is especially unfortunate since some of its most fearless leaders reside in the Thai-Burma border region. Under Prime Minister Thaksin, Thailand has supported and sustained its historic enemy, at the very time when it could use its influence to help bring about the negotiated transition to democracy in Burma."

http://www.nationalr...oon/john-mccain

[phiphidon]

Noppadon said today that Thaksin is definitely going to Washington next week and that he is not concerned about the extradition treaty between the USA and Thailand.

He assured the press that Thaksin has no visa problems and that he can freely go to America. He was unsure which passport his boss will use, only saying that it won't be on a Thai passport, because that one has been revoked.

If he's going next week, he should be applying now:

U.S. Embassy Serbia (for Montenegrin citizens)

Visas - How to Apply

If you plan to travel to the U.S. you should have in mind that visa interview time may be from a few days to few weeks away, so please plan ahead.

Step 1

Obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at any Raiffeisen Bank or Banca Intesa branch in Serbia or Montenegro Bank in Montenegro. This PIN number will allow you to access our call center in Serbia for information and the scheduling of a visa appointment. It costs approximately $10, to be paid in either dinars (in Serbia) or euros (in Montenegro).

Step 2: Make a Phone Call

After obtaining the PIN number, wait 24 hours for the PIN to be activated. Then please call +(381-11) 3050-550. You may access the call center any working day between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm, Monday through Friday.

Tourist Visas (B2)

Persons traveling to the United States for purposes of tourism or to make social visits to relatives or friends must make an appointment for an interview and provide all the documents described in "Basic documents and photographs".

In addition, applicants for tourist visas must demonstrate that

1. They have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will insure their return abroad at the end of the visit

2. The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for pleasure

3. That they plan to remain for a specific, limited period

4. Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States

Requests for urgent appointments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. There are emergency appointments set aside daily for scheduling through the call center at (381-11) 305-0550. Cases could include urgent business travel, student/exchange programs with an imminent start date, recent qualification for sports tournaments, etc. These appointments are not, however, available to those who have failed to plan ahead.

.

Then again he may be going as Takki Shinegra. Any guidelines for applying for a US Visa as an Ugandan citizen?

[Misterwhisper]

Thaksin, what a wonderful choice given his own record in upholding human rights at all cost! There we finally have someone who can testify with authority, particularly because he was right smack in the middle when the Thai military dispersed all those peaceful protesters and therefore has first-hand insight. Hold it! Wasn't he photographed shopping in a luxury boutique in Paris that day? The mind boggles.

[animatic]

I was at the US Embassy this morning in Abu Dhabi with my Thai wife applying for a US visa and can confirm that Khun Thaksin was at the embassy.

And you oh so conveniently joined and told us this first post.... hmmmm.

[khaowong1]

It's going to be interesting to see if he actually shows up. Or if the U.S. will even let him in the country. But I hear talk all the time that he has a diplomatic passport from some African nation, not that that will do you any good if you are targeted as persona non grata. Unless of course, this IS a sting operation.

[TheyCallmeScooter]

Thaksin, what a wonderful choice given his own record in upholding human rights at all cost! There we finally have someone who can testify with authority, particularly because he was right smack in the middle when the Thai military dispersed all those peaceful protesters and therefore has first-hand insight. Hold it! Wasn't he photographed shopping in a luxury boutique in Paris that day? The mind boggles.

Yeah, I wonder what the Helsinki Commission could possibly hope to 'discover' from a man who funded the terrorist violence whilst buying B40,000 purses in Paris.

UDD leader admits protest funds come from Thaksin

Published: 18/05/2010 at 12:00 AM

A United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader has admitted the red shirt rally has received financial support from ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, the former deputy leader of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party .

"I accept that Thaksin himself and some politicians, including Khunying Sudarat, have given us financial support, as have other donors, but I don't know how much they've donated," UDD co-leader Jaran Dithapichai said on the Ratchaprasong rally stage last night.

"What's wrong with that? Rallies have costs and we need donors. Even other UDD members and myself have had to spend our personal funds on the rally."

Mr Jaran's statement came after the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) announced plans on Sunday to freeze the financial transactions of 106 people and companies it believed had provided funding for red shirt activities.

A photographer spotted ex-premier Thaksin shopping at a Louis Vuitton store in Paris last Saturday.

The CSCE, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is an independent US Government agency created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE commitments.

The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine members from the US House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.

The Commission convenes public hearings and briefings with expert witnesses on OSCE-concerned issues, organises official delegations to participating States and OSCE meetings to address and assess democratic, economic, security and human rights developments firsthand.

The Helsinki Commission wants to assess human rights firsthand from a man Human Rights Watch described as "a human rights abuser of the worst kind"?

Human Rights Watch was founded under the name Helsinki Watch in 1978 to monitor the former Soviet Union's compliance with the Helsinki Accords.

And people think WikiLeaks is a bad thing.

Yes, the mind boggles.

---------------------

http://osce.usmissio...fomthailand.pdf

"In closing, we look forward to warmly welcoming Thailand's enemy as our guest; as we search for the truth about the terrorist campaign he funded from abroad. Right of reply? Evidence? Witnesses? How cute! Bup-bup-bup. Enough. We look forward to your cooperation."

If you'd like to convey a message to the Helsinki Commission that will be ignored, you can do so here:

http://csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

[phiphidon]

US politicians are a world different than their SE Asian counterparts. SE Asian VIPs are so steeped in 'saving face' and other politecisms (my word) that they can't even speak out frankly about Burma. US politicians, on the other hand, rise to the opportunity to speak frankly. Thaksin will wither like a string bean in a blast furnace. I hope it's televised.

I wish Senator McCain was on the Helsinki Commission. He would make Thaksin sob like a schoolgirl. In a speech to the Senate floor in 2003:

"Under Thaksin, Thailand has moved aggressively to deepen Thai business ties with Burma, provide substantial economic assistance to the junta, collaborate with the Burmese military against Burmese ethnic groups who oppose rule by the generals, arrest and repatriate exiled Burmese democrats across the Thai-Burma border, and pursue a policy of cooperation and conciliation with a regime that is opposed by the vast majority of its people and known to much of the world as an outlaw.

Bangkok's coddling of Rangoon has gone well beyond passive acceptance of the regime next door to something approaching active sponsorship of the junta. Thailand has made no effort to reach out to the Burmese opposition, which is especially unfortunate since some of its most fearless leaders reside in the Thai-Burma border region. Under Prime Minister Thaksin, Thailand has supported and sustained its historic enemy, at the very time when it could use its influence to help bring about the negotiated transition to democracy in Burma."

http://www.nationalr...oon/john-mccain

You might want to investigate information about Khun Abhisit and his recent agreement with Than Shwe over the Dawei port and industrial centre, just for balance mind.

[robsamui]

"Mr Thaksin has accepted the invitation to go to Washington so that the commission will get to know the truth about the matter," according to his close aide.

[kiwijor]

I hope he takes a refresher course in English before he goes. One of his great failings is his inability to communicate in English.

I would like to know where you obtained the incorrect opinion that Khun Thaksin is unable to converse in English?

He is able to converse in English very well.

Kiwijor.

[Buchholz]

I was at the US Embassy this morning in Abu Dhabi with my Thai wife applying for a US visa and can confirm that Khun Thaksin was at the embassy.

Thanks for joining Thaivisa to tell us that. Was he using his Montenegrin, Nicaraguan, or Ugandan passport?

Thai police monitoring Thaksin's visit to US

BANGKOK -- Thai National Police Chief said Tuesday that the police are tracking where the fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra would apply for a visa in order to travel to the United States.

The National Police Chief Police General Wichien Potphosri gave the remarks on the invitation reportedly issued to Thaksin by the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) to address a forum on "Thailand: Democracy, Governance and Human Rights" in Washington on Dec 16. "The police are now checking Thaksin's whereabouts and his visa application to the United States."

Meanwhile, the Office of Attorney General's international division director Sirisak Tiyapan said there has been report on Thaksin's travel plan, but no clear information on when he will arrive.

Continues:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-12/07/c_13638934.htm

Xinhua - December 7, 2010

[Buchholz]

Noppadon said today that Thaksin is definitely going to Washington next week and that he is not concerned about the extradition treaty between the USA and Thailand.

He assured the press that Thaksin has no visa problems and that he can freely go to America. He was unsure which passport his boss will use, only saying that it won't be on a Thai passport, because that one has been revoked.

If he's going next week, he should be applying now:

U.S. Embassy Serbia (for Montenegrin citizens)

If you plan to travel to the U.S. you should have in mind that visa interview time may be from a few days to few weeks away, so please plan ahead.

Requests for urgent appointments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These appointments are not, however, available to those who have failed to plan ahead.

Then again he may be going as Takki Shinegra. Any guidelines for applying for a US Visa as an Ugandan citizen?

Pretty similar to the above, but the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has additional concerns that Thaksin should be aware of as forgery and fraud are something he's familiar with:

Cooperation to combat visa fraud

The United States Embassy launched a program with the Uganda Banking Association on February 20 to help combat fraudulent visa applications. Applicants can now complete a form authorizing their bank to forward statements to the visa section. In the past, most visa applicants presented paper copies of their bank statements along with their applications to the U.S. Embassy. Unfortunately, a significant number of statements supplied were either forged, had been tampered with or were being used without the permission of the account holder. Many statements had to be checked carefully, slowing down the application process.

[Buchholz]

Thaksin plans to present evidence to the commission about human rights violations during the protests and detail his views on reconciliation, Noppadon said.

“We hope that with fuller evidence and details given by our side, U.S. congressmen and Senators will know the truth and understand the present political situation better,” he said. “We hope that we would gain some support and sympathy.”

With Takky's track record of indiscriminate executions in Chiang Mai and South of Thailand this has to be a bogus report. No intelligent person would offer this convicted criminal the right to air his pathetic opinions.

He's doing so in order gain support and sympathy.

[rubl]

The CSCE website http://www.csce.gov/ not only doesn't say much, but is also out-of-date and unspecific in it's pages. The home page shows a 'newsroom' tab without a date, and has 'in the news' from end of September this year. The 'in the news' page also stops at end of September.

Makes you wonder how this commission spents the tax dollars ?

[Buchholz]

Uncertainty on whether to seek Thaksin's extradition from US

Moves to extradite Thaksin Shinawatra are still in limbo, as Thai officials appear to have no clear plan to get the former PM back, despite his announcement he will visit the United States this month.

Thaksin says he will go to the US shortly to give evidence to the Helsinki Commission, a human rights panel, about the military crackdown on red-shirt protesters in mid-year.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva seemed not to take the matter seriously when he told reporters yesterday he had not talked in detail with US President Barack Obama about extraditing Thaksin - in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, as suggested by Wikileaks, but had mainly enjoyed a chat about Apple's Ipad device.

Abhisit said he wasn't worried about Thaksin's testimony and had no idea if the former premier would really enter the US for such a purpose.

However the prime minister has instructed the Foreign Ministry to monitor Thaksin's movements.

Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Thani Thongpakdi said yesterday the ministry would forward an extradition request to Washington if the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) made an official bid to get Thaksin.

As of yesterday the OAG had not made any move to have Thaksin extradited. The office said earlier it was the Foreign Ministry or police commissioner who were legally obliged to request Thaksin's extradition.

Thani said his ministry has not yet verified Thaksin's address in the US or even confirmed whether he would really visit the country.

"If we know where exactly he is, the ministry will inform the OAG to make an official request to the US for extradition," he said. "The OAG has the final say in this case whether to have seek extradition," he said.

At this stage, no Thai agency could confirm if Thaksin would even be granted a visa to enter the US.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said Thaksin planned to visit the US on December 16 and would use his Montenegrin passport. His Thai passport has been cancelled.

Noppadon, who is a former foreign minister, said he did not have information on whether Thaksin already had a US visa.

Asked if Thaksin was aware he could be extradited from the US to Thailand once he arrived in Washington, Noppadon said the former prime minister may have already calculated the risk, as he knew Thailand and the US had an extradition agreement.

"The government, the Foreign Ministry, the OAG have authority to do so [request extradition], but the government should open its mind and give their opponent the chance to speak out about the other side of the story," he said.

Thaksin planned to give his version of the military crackdown in April and May this year, which led to the death of 91 people, mostly red-shirt protesters.

Noppadon suggested the government send an official to give its side of story to the US panel, rather than trying to get Thaksin extradited back to Thailand.

"I believe the US commission will have good judgement in the hearing," Noppadon said.

Opposition MP Jatuporn Promphan said Thaksin would go to the US to tell the truth to the world, although he was aware he could be arrested on arrival and extradited back to his homeland. "If he really goes, the world will know the truth," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-08

[Buchholz]

It is noted this 'invitation' went to Thaksin's Washington address,

and that means his PR lobbying firm, Baker, Bott & etc, if memory serves, consisting of ex. senators, cabinet members, including Bush crony, Trilateral Commission and Carlisle Group member, former Bush Sr. Sec State James Baker, and a phalanx of ex. congressional aides and lobbyists, who will make deals if the price is right. Money talks, and truth is not always money's main consideration.

So yet another PR move by Thaksin, this is likely not just something the committee thought up on their own.

The invite was sent to the Amsterdam PR group and seems it was directly related to the Amsterdam group filing charges against Abhisit with the ICC.

Still, it's rather humorous that they are limiting him to under 10 minutes of their time.

Hardly worth a 13 hour flight from Abu Dhabi.

[Buchholz]

I hope he takes a refresher course in English before he goes. One of his great failings is his inability to communicate in English.

I would like to know where you obtained the incorrect opinion that Khun Thaksin is unable to converse in English?

He is able to converse in English very well.

Now there's an opinion that one doesn't hear very often.

His mangling of the English language, despite supposedly having completed a PhD in the English language, is well known.

[TheyCallmeScooter]

His mangling of the English language, despite supposedly having completed a PhD in the English language, is well known.

So is the truth about April / May. But that didn't stop most of the world's media from falling into line behind CNN / BBC, misrepresenting the Thai government's unfathomable patience in seeking to accommodate protesters who only wanted one thing - and it was not democracy.

Amsterdam will write the official submission. It will be almost entirely fabricated and twisted and false. Thaksin will bumble his way through a 7 minute oral. The Kangaroo Commission will thank him warmly and proceed with whatever conspiratorial plan they've decided upon.

I don't see how anything else could be possible? When a nation which has an extradition treaty with another nation INVITES a convicted criminal and human rights abuser to brief them with his perspective of the riots he funded. From abroad. After skipping out of the country whilst on bail. They won't arrest him. There is dark, murky stuff going on here.

I hope I'm wrong, but this is a setup. They're setting up Thailand, not Thaksin.

[Buchholz]

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said Thaksin planned to visit the US on December 16 and would use his Montenegrin passport. His Thai passport has been cancelled.

Noppadon, who is a former foreign minister, said he did not have information on whether Thaksin already had a US visa.

Well, at least we now know he's using the passport that he paid 500,000 Euros for.

With all his travels and the associated entry/exit stamps and visas, I wonder how much extra pages are?

Perhaps they are given to him free because of his pledge of investing $300,000,000 in Montenegro.

[Buchholz]

Recently the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship filed a case with the International Criminal Court (ICC) claiming the current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, is guility of crimes against humanity perpetrated during the crackdown.

Interesting how Thaksin's reply "mangled" a purported claim into a recognized certainty:

"I welcome the fact that the US authorities have recognised that the horrific human rights atrocities that occurred in April and May this year"

.

[animatic]

I hope he takes a refresher course in English before he goes. One of his great failings is his inability to communicate in English.

I would like to know where you obtained the incorrect opinion that Khun Thaksin is unable to converse in English?

He is able to converse in English very well.

Kiwijor.

Have you actually heard him try to... guess not.

[ianbaggie]

The USA may owe Thailand a big favour for the extradition of Viktor Bout, but lets see if thy return the favour?

Somehow I think they will not.

Sadly - I have to agree with you 100%. My question though - is what could Thaksin possibly say to the panel - He wasnt even in the country!! I reckon I could give more evidence on the crackdown - which was actually extremely "soft" except for the black shirts shooting their own side from the BTS tracks as they waited in the temple!!

[whybother]

You might want to investigate information about Khun Abhisit and his recent agreement with Than Shwe over the Dawei port and industrial centre, just for balance mind.

I'll just file this one away for when you bring up the "this isn't about Thaksin" line next.

[TAWP]

I hope he takes a refresher course in English before he goes. One of his great failings is his inability to communicate in English.

I would like to know where you obtained the incorrect opinion that Khun Thaksin is unable to converse in English?

He is able to converse in English very well.

Kiwijor.

'Very well' is very subjective. His highly broken English has been observed in multitude of interviews and news-reports.

But then again, I compare his level of English, incl. pronunciation, with my friends and co-workers in Thailand...

[ianbaggie]

Thaksin is many things, but he is not an idiot. He will not go the US. This is a non-story.

Possibly.

But if he does go to the US, says his piece and departs it will be hard for his enemies to claim he is permanently on the run from one third world dump to another.It will be hard for Thailand to pretend most countries don't consider any extradition request politically motivated and it will be hard for those forum members whose main interest is castigating Thaksin that the wider world shares their views.In fact quite a few people will have egg on their faces, especially little Kasit (not so much Abhisit who is not pushing the matter so much)

If - assuming Thaksin does travel to the US - the Thais say that for some technical reason an extradition request was not served (for Thailand and the US have a valid treaty) you can be sure they have been told in advance by the State Department they are wasting their time.If Thaksin doesn't travel then not only does he seem rather cowardly but in addition I think that this will be evidence that extradition proceedings represent a clear and present danger for him - somewhere, sometime.

Just speculation on my part and we will soon know the score.I do feel that Thailand (and Abhisit) has a lot of goodwill internationally so perhaps Thaksin will be shipped back to Bangkok.I honestly don't know - nor do I suspect do most other people.

No - not at all!! If he says his piece the world will question why a US Govt office would summon a wanted terrorist criminal to give evidence against the "friendly to the US Government". It will also question little Shinawatras own actions whilst in power. The fact is Khun t is a fugitive for the rest of his life. My final comment - you seem to think that ts has some sort of moral code when he has shown time and time again that he is a bare faced liar, and not embarrased by his own stupid anti human conduct. My own feeling is that all of this is just hot air from ts's publicity department and his two small minded lawyers. As one poster said he will withdraw stating he is doing it to save everyone trouble. No one will have egg on their faces except for him who already sports a whole omelette on his fizog!!

[jayboy]

Thaksin is many things, but he is not an idiot. He will not go the US. This is a non-story.

Possibly.

But if he does go to the US, says his piece and departs it will be hard for his enemies to claim he is permanently on the run from one third world dump to another.It will be hard for Thailand to pretend most countries don't consider any extradition request politically motivated and it will be hard for those forum members whose main interest is castigating Thaksin that the wider world shares their views.In fact quite a few people will have egg on their faces, especially little Kasit (not so much Abhisit who is not pushing the matter so much)

If - assuming Thaksin does travel to the US - the Thais say that for some technical reason an extradition request was not served (for Thailand and the US have a valid treaty) you can be sure they have been told in advance by the State Department they are wasting their time.If Thaksin doesn't travel then not only does he seem rather cowardly but in addition I think that this will be evidence that extradition proceedings represent a clear and present danger for him - somewhere, sometime.

Just speculation on my part and we will soon know the score.I do feel that Thailand (and Abhisit) has a lot of goodwill internationally so perhaps Thaksin will be shipped back to Bangkok.I honestly don't know - nor do I suspect do most other people.

No - not at all!! If he says his piece the world will question why a US Govt office would summon a wanted terrorist criminal to give evidence against the "friendly to the US Government". It will also question little Shinawatras own actions whilst in power. The fact is Khun t is a fugitive for the rest of his life. My final comment - you seem to think that ts has some sort of moral code when he has shown time and time again that he is a bare faced liar, and not embarrased by his own stupid anti human conduct. My own feeling is that all of this is just hot air from ts's publicity department and his two small minded lawyers. As one poster said he will withdraw stating he is doing it to save everyone trouble. No one will have egg on their faces except for him who already sports a whole omelette on his fizog!!

In a way this discussion is redundant because very shortly we will have the hard facts available.Then you can be sure forum members may wish to revisit the various predictions made.Although your post is a little confusing it seems you are saying he will withdraw.At that point I selflessly will be making various "egg on face" awards as appropriate.