webfact Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thai PM says he may be British BANGKOK, February 24, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's prime minister said Thursday that he may also be British, acknowledging claims by opponents trying to use the issue to bring him before the International Criminal Court. But the British-born Abhisit Vejjajiva said he considered himself Thai and had not sought to benefit from dual citizenship. "Now if I travel to England I need to ask for a visa. It is clear that I intend to hold Thai citizenship. Whether that means I hold dual citizenship or not, that's a legal issue," he said in response to questioning in parliament. According to the British Home Office's UK Border Agency, anyone born in Britain before January 1 1983 is "almost certainly a British citizen". The only exception is a person born to certain diplomatic staff of foreign missions who had diplomatic immunity, it says on its website. Abhisit, the scion of an influential family, attended Britain's elite Eton College where he was reportedly known to his friends as "Mark Vejj". Thailand's anti-government "Red Shirt" movement has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate possible crimes against humanity committed under his government during deadly street clashes in Bangkok last year. Although Thailand has not ratified the Rome Statute that created the ICC, the Reds have argued that Abhisit could be held to account by the body if he is a citizen of Britain, which is a signatory of the pact. About 90 people died in clashes between protesters and armed troops during the two-month Red Shirt demonstration, which ended in May 2010 with a deadly military crackdown. Robert Amsterdam, a London-based representative for the movement, filed a petition last month requesting that ICC prosecutors launch a preliminary investigation relating to "potential crimes against humanity". Amsterdam cited in particular the alleged use of snipers and the firing of live ammunition by the army during last year's violence. -- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-02-24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatrickid Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Nothing prevents the PM from renouncing British citizen rights. I wouldn't if I were him though since it is a ticket to a success in his career that will follow his stint as PM. Makes it easier to work in the EU etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makescents Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Where's the story here? Does this even matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 "Reds have argued that Abhisit could be held to account by the body if he is a citizen of Britain, which is a signatory of the pact" Is Montenigro a signatory ?.....if so then may be the PM can file a petition for investigation of crimes against humanity for another "famous" dual national from Thailand and they can stand in the dock together.... IMHO the reds are grasping at straws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Can a Thai holding dual citizenship be PM? That's the crux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insight Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Can a Thai holding dual citizenship be PM? That's the crux. I don't see why not...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Can a Thai holding dual citizenship be PM? That's the crux. Apparently you can...After all Abhisit is currently in office.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softgeorge Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 so he was born and educated in england. He then moved to Thailand wouldn't that make him more British than Thai? Maybe the redshirts are just a lettle upset that a farang is in charge of the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Can a Thai holding dual citizenship be PM? That's the crux. I don't see why not...? I don't either but there must be a statute outlining the qualifications necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesdavy Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 He was born British and became Thai when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
presscamera Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 You cannot give up or renounce British Citizenship it is always available under whatever mechanism that you obtained it in the first place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) ^^^It is the crux because if there were a statute ( and hopefully somebody can provide one showing one way or the other) that a government minister, member of parliament or whatever must be a Thai citizen only then that would mean that the PM is in his position illegally which would be an almighty fugazi making Amsterdam's case look like small potatoes. Edited February 24, 2011 by mca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oberkommando Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 There goes the election. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anon467367354 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 if he was a Brit, even half a Brit, why would he have to get a visa to go to his own country? I don't need a visa to go to the US. I know plenty of people with dual Canadian citizen-ships and they don't need visas. How is starting a riot in Bangkok and burning property resulting in deaths not a crime. You start a riot, I as the government have to protect the people's right to a safe country. Some of the riot-teers get killed, and it's another I'm wrong but you are wrong for preventing me from doing what was wrong. So the wrong people got hurt, the businesses were wronged and suffered. This is the wrong issue to be following. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whybother Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 He was born British and became Thai when? He became Thai when he was born to two Thai parents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whybother Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 You cannot give up or renounce British Citizenship it is always available under whatever mechanism that you obtained it in the first place Yes you can. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/givingupcitizenship/howtogiveupnationality/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colabamumbai Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 So What...He is the P.M. supported by the military in Thailand...end of story.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 According to here . . . http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/issuesanswers/2009/article1066.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whybother Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) And everyone knows Abhisit was born in the UK. That doesn't mean he can't be PM of Thailand. Edited February 24, 2011 by Scott unapproved quote edited out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insight Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 There goes the election. How do you figure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkk_mike Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 if he was a Brit, even half a Brit, why would he have to get a visa to go to his own country? As a member of the government, I believe he probably has a diplomatic passport, which gives him free visas, and I'm pretty sure a separate channel through immigration, rather than having to pay for a UK passport. Admittedly, if he is British, I think he should be entering the UK using a British passport or with a vignette in his foreign passport stating that he has right of abode, rather than a regular visa, so if he is using regular visas it may be breaking UK immigration rules. (I'm just not sure if that's only a requirement after you've received a UK passport. Not 100% it's a requirement if you didn't apply for one.) Admittedly, if he is British, and went to school in the UK, his parents lost out badly when they paid overseas fees as he'd have been resident in the UK the required number of years for, at the time, fees paid by the local education authority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oberkommando Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 There goes the election. How do you figure? Thais are extremely nationalistic. Can see his British citizenship being a factor turning voters away from him. Of course if there were any credible opposition still not yet dismantled by the courts as the Dems should surely have been themselves then they wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Hell in any election. The Bitter Medicine and thoroughly corrupt Chuan Leekpai administration took care of that over 10 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insight Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) There goes the election. How do you figure? Thais are extremely nationalistic. Can see his British citizenship being a factor turning voters away from him. Of course if there were any credible opposition still not yet dismantled by the courts as the Dems should surely have been themselves then they wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Hell in any election. The Bitter Medicine and thoroughly corrupt Chuan Leekpai administration took care of that over 10 years ago. None of these antics from the red shirt "lawyer" have rocked Abhisit's support base as far as I can tell. There'll be an election /edit - has becoming a Montenegrin damaged Mr T's popularity? Edited February 24, 2011 by Insight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZBill Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hahahaha! The Thai PM is a farang!!!! Very stealth, but the British invasion has already happened Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whybother Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thais are extremely nationalistic. Can see his British citizenship being a factor turning voters away from him. ... Everyone already knows he was born and grew up in the UK. Do you think him maybe "technically" having British citizenship will make a difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slip Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 There goes the election. How do you figure? It's called wishful thinking Insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DP25 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) Thais are extremely nationalistic. Can see his British citizenship being a factor turning voters away from him. Montenegrin citizenship (that was actively applied for) of course has no such negative impact at the polls Edited February 24, 2011 by DP25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAWP Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Can a Thai holding dual citizenship be PM? That's the crux. Nothing in the constitution prohibits it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oberkommando Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Abhisit has never won a general election so this will be new territory for him. As I said previously if there were any credible opposition whatsoever the Dems would lose. Will his citizenship be a factor? Absolutely, how big a factor we'll need to wait and see. /edit - has becoming a Montenegrin damaged Mr T's popularity? He wasn't born, raised and educated in Montenegro though, nor has he been evasive with the truth when confronted over it as Abhisit has. Many will see Thaksin's other citizenships as hiving been forced upon him, not so of Abhisit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungryhippo Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) About 90 people died in clashes between protesters and armed troops during the two-month Red Shirt demonstration, which ended in May 2010 with a deadly military crackdown. Conveniently leaving out the part where the red shirt "demonstrations" burned down half of Bangkok, grenaded the BTS and shot a lot of police themselves. All left out making an uninformed reader develop an opinion without all the facts.. Nice reporting there AP. Edited February 24, 2011 by hungryhippo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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