Ex-Thai PM Thaksin Enters Japan Amid Controversy

[webfact]

PM'S FUGITIVE BROTHER

Thaksin enters Japan amid controversy

By The Nation, Agencies

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Japan yesterday on a high-profile visit that has caused headaches for the government of his younger sister Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, most notably a legal challenge against the foreign minister mounted by the opposition party.

"I'm very happy that I've come to Japan again. I really love to come to Japan," Thaksin told reporters on his arrival.

His last visit to the country was in 2008. A subsequent attempt to enter Japan was blocked by the previous Thai government.

During his visit, which is scheduled to last until Sunday, Thaksin is to deliver speeches and meet with Japanese politicians and business leaders. He also plans to visit and donate assistance to victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the eastern region of the country in March.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan invited him to be the keynote speaker at a luncheon speech in Tokyo today.

Thaksin's visit is controversial. The Japanese government had to issue him a special visa, as the country's immigration law prohibits entry to any foreigner convicted of a crime carrying a sentence of more than one year.

The fugitive former prime minister was convicted and sentenced to two years for abuse of power over his wife's purchase of a plot of land from a state agency while he was in office.

Thaksin obtained the special entry visa after a request from the new Thai government.

The opposition Democrat Party filed a complaint with police last week against Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, accusing him of facilitating the Thaksin's entry to Japan. It is illegal in Thailand to help a convicted person escape justice.

The opposition is also seeking Surapong's impeachment as foreign minister for alleged misconduct over his role in the Japan visit.

Surapong, however, has lodged a counter-charge with police against four Democrats, including party leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, for defamation and giving false notice to police.

"The Democrats' action damaged my reputation, since I did not help former prime minister Thaksin visit Japan," Surapong said.

"I will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission asking it to dissolve the party for using smear tactics against me."

Under the Abhisit government, the National Police Commission, the Foreign Ministry and the Office of the Attorney-General did nothing to arrest Thaksin, Surapong said. The foreign minister said he could not request Thaksin's extradition from Japan as Thailand and Japan had no extradition agreement.

-- The Nation 2011-08-23

[webfact]

Ex-Thai PM Thaksin visits Japan

TOKYO, August 23, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra is due to give two speeches in Japan on Tuesday as part of a visit that has stoked widespread controversy in his home country.

The one-time business tycoon, toppled in a 2006 coup, is visiting Japan just a fortnight after his sister Yingluck Shinawatra took power as Thailand's prime minister, raising questions about his influence over her government.

Thaksin, who is living in exile in Dubai to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has angered his critics with his Japan visit -- until August 28 -- which many see as an attempt to make a return to the international stage.

His visit will include a tour of northeastern areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. On Tuesday he was due to give two speeches in Tokyo.

In a recent interview with Japan's Kyodo News agency, he said he wanted to assess what Thailand could do to help Japan.

"My intention is to visit the tsunami site to see whether we can render any kind of cooperation or assistance," he was quoted as saying.

He said help from Bangkok could possibly include assisting disaster-hit Japanese companies relocate to Thailand, or to issue long-stay visas to tsunami victims who want to recuperate in Thailand.

Thaksin reportedly insisted he is not officially involved with the new government led by Yingluck, telling Kyodo: "Leadership lies with the prime minister. I just give advice when needed. I don't give advice every day."

Thaksin, who served as Thai prime minister between 2001 and 2006, is loved by many poor Thais but seen by the Bangkok-based elite as authoritarian and a threat to the monarchy.

His removal from power by royalist generals heralded five years of political crises, both in the Thai parliament and on the streets, where his foes and supporters have held crippling rival protests.

They culminated in rallies by "Red Shirts" loyal to Thaksin last year, in which more than 90 people died in clashes between the army and demonstrators.

Yingluck, a political novice who her brother has described as his "clone", has raised the idea of an amnesty for convicted politicians.

While Yingluck's government denied making a specific visa request for Thaksin, Tokyo said Bangkok had asked it to allow in the former leader, making an exception to its normal entry rules concerning criminal convictions.

The previous Democrat-led government accused the fugitive of bankrolling the 2010 Red Shirt rallies and inciting unrest, and a Thai court last year approved an arrest warrant for him on terrorism charges.

An opinion poll published on Monday indicated most Thais want Thaksin to stay out of politics.

Almost 69 percent said he should allow Yingluck to run the country by herself, compared with 20.5 percent who said he should have a role, according to Assumption University of Thailand, which surveyed almost 2,200 people.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-23

[looping]

Thaksin is well aware that in disaster there is opportunity. Let's see how he can 'help' the Japanese.

[Soutpeel]

"Leadership lies with the prime minister. I just give advice when needed. I don't give advice every day."

No just every second day.....

How bizarre is this situation like this....a convicted indivual, who skipped out the country and is currently classed as fugtive, giving advice to a goverment of a sovergien country...

As regards the other issue Surapong vs the Democrates, I know 3 years olds who exhibit more maturity than this lot

Edited August 22, 2011 by Soutpeel

[thaivisitorTeeVee]

Will Khun Thaksin meet with US VP Biden who is also in Japan?

[sharecropper]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

[OzMick]

Have the Japanese taken up my suggestion to have him accompanied by uniformed police at all times? (see photo)

Another suggestion - have an official shake his hand, and then count his fingers to make sure he got them all back.

[whybother]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

"he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup" .... Both correct, but not at the same time.

Successful coup perpetrators never end up in jail, unless the killed people in the process in which case they will be eventually caught out by the "international police". I don't know of any country that has the coup perpetrators on their watch list, mainly because there were elections quite soon after the coup.

[kerryk]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

"he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup" .... Both correct, but not at the same time.

Successful coup perpetrators never end up in jail, unless the killed people in the process in which case they will be eventually caught out by the "international police". I don't know of any country that has the coup perpetrators on their watch list, mainly because there were elections quite soon after the coup.

A Thai and Russian history check would be good here. Not a Thai/Russian but Thai and Russian history check.

[OzMick]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

".......... he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand......." who's term had expired, had tended his resignstion to the head of state, unilaterally re-instated himself, and had failed to hold an election with the required period of time. This would be a more accurate statement of the PM's position at the time of the coup.

Exactly what would you do with a megalomaniac PM who's term has expires and who refuses to leave office?

[whybother]

...

Successful coup perpetrators never end up in jail, unless the killed people in the process in which case they will be eventually caught out by the "international police". I don't know of any country that has the coup perpetrators on their watch list, mainly because there were elections quite soon after the coup.

A Thai and Russian history check would be good here. Not a Thai/Russian but Thai and Russian history check.

Can I have more of a hint?

[Ricardo]

he said he wanted to assess what Thailand could do to help Japan

Doesn't Thailand have an embassy in Japan, full of civil-servants who can do this already, for Thailand ?

Does Thailand rely on help from Mentenegrin/Nicaraguan/Ugandan citizens often, to support its diplomats abroad ?

And didn't Thailand's then-government already send aid to Japan, shortly after the tsunami, months ago ?

Perhaps this new initiative is part of his roving-international-trade job instead.

Edited August 23, 2011 by Ricardo

[Bakseedaa]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

At the time of the coup, Thaksin was Not the legally elected prime-minister, his time had ran out and he had made himself caretaker prime minister.. that was part of the reason for the coup.. Get your facts right.. You cannot compare one mans corruption with anothers..

Edited August 23, 2011 by sbk
OTT hyperbole

[geriatrickid]

Thaksin is well aware that in disaster there is opportunity. Let's see how he can 'help' the Japanese.

Yup.

He said help from Bangkok could possibly include assisting disaster-hit Japanese companies relocate to Thailand, or to issue long-stay visas to tsunami victims who want to recuperate in Thailand.

[hyperdimension]

Thaksin is well aware that in disaster there is opportunity. Let's see how he can 'help' the Japanese.

I agree, he is a big businessman after all and is always looking for places to park his cash for it to grow. In Japan he could be looking to see how he could wedge his cash into reconstruction with the possible goal of owning some valuable real estate and/or new businesses there.

[geriatrickid]

Will Khun Thaksin meet with US VP Biden who is also in Japan?

No need. Mr. Thaksin has previously spoken with US State Department officials. You might want to check out who he has spoken with in the past two years. International politics is a slimey racket.

[hammered]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

At the time of the coup, Thaksin was Not the legally elected prime-minister, his time had ran out and he had made himself caretaker prime minister.. that was part of the reason for the coup.. Get your facts right.. You cannot compare one mans corruption with anothers..

That is techincally true. However, it is also true that a coup was an illegal way to resolve what was a constitutional problem. There was a fully elected senate still seated as well as a constitutional court. The coup in retrospect was an utter disaster.

Interestingly Thaksin has been quite warmly welcomed in Japan with a number of invites that didnt need to be made. It looks like a new period in how the international community view and react to Thaksin and one which his enemies will not like. The fact that the convictions came after the (illegal) coup always meant they were going to be on shaky foundations as far as the international community was concerned. Without an anti-Thaksin government installed to shore those up, things really do get rocky. Im sure Thaksin knows this, and it is a major reason he is playing the game hard right now. He has always argued he was unfailry treated and whatever the truth in the matter the more places he visits and the more high profile meets he gets the more it looks as though those governments sympathise with his plight and view the cases as political. And it wasnt helped by it coming out as admitted by Abhisit that the Dems never tried to extradite him with one Dem even intimating foreign governments would view the cases as political. Interesting game of chess

[Buchholz]

lots of opportunity for the inevitable Thaksin-foot-in-mouth...

Tuesday, he has a full day planned in the limelight. The former prime minister has a press conference at the Imperial Hotel at 10 a.m., a speech and Q&A to Japan’s foreign correspondents’ club at noon, and yet another speech about Japan, China, and Southeast Asia at 6 p.m.

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/08/23/thaksin-takes-the-tokyo-stage/

Wall Street Journal - August 23, 2011

[OzMick]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

At the time of the coup, Thaksin was Not the legally elected prime-minister, his time had ran out and he had made himself caretaker prime minister.. that was part of the reason for the coup.. Get your facts right.. You cannot compare one mans corruption with anothers...

That is techincally true. However, it is also true that a coup was an illegal way to resolve what was a constitutional problem. There was a fully elected senate still seated as well as a constitutional court. The coup in retrospect was an utter disaster.

Interestingly Thaksin has been quite warmly welcomed in Japan with a number of invites that didnt need to be made. It looks like a new period in how the international community view and react to Thaksin and one which his enemies will not like. The fact that the convictions came after the (illegal) coup always meant they were going to be on shaky foundations as far as the international community was concerned. Without an anti-Thaksin government installed to shore those up, things really do get rocky. Im sure Thaksin knows this, and it is a major reason he is playing the game hard right now. He has always argued he was unfailry treated and whatever the truth in the matter the more places he visits and the more high profile meets he gets the more it looks as though those governments sympathise with his plight and view the cases as political. And it wasnt helped by it coming out as admitted by Abhisit that the Dems never tried to extradite him with one Dem even intimating foreign governments would view the cases as political. Interesting game of chess

Technically true? So he should have been allowed time to stack the courts, police and army with his cronies?

All coups are by definition illegal, but the only problem I have with that one was the timing - they should have done it while he was in the country and been a bit more "South American' in their approach. A lot of the problems Thailand has experienced in the subsequent years would never have occurred if they had jailed him and his corrupt clan, or used him as an example and shot him out of hand.

[scorecard]

"Leadership lies with the prime minister. I just give advice when needed. I don't give advice every day."

No just every second day.....

How bizarre is this situation like this....a convicted indivual, who skipped out the country and is currently classed as fugtive, giving advice to a goverment of a sovergien country...

As regards the other issue Surapong vs the Democrates, I know 3 years olds who exhibit more maturity than this lot

He says: Leadership lies with the prime minister. I just give advice when needed. I don't give advice every day."

But yingluck and other ministers make a point of saying that he's not involved at all.

So who's telling the truth? Who's telling lies?

Do they really care whether their image has credibility?

Edited August 23, 2011 by scorecard

[hammered]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

At the time of the coup, Thaksin was Not the legally elected prime-minister, his time had ran out and he had made himself caretaker prime minister.. that was part of the reason for the coup.. Get your facts right.. You cannot compare one mans corruption with anothers...

That is techincally true. However, it is also true that a coup was an illegal way to resolve what was a constitutional problem. There was a fully elected senate still seated as well as a constitutional court. The coup in retrospect was an utter disaster.

Interestingly Thaksin has been quite warmly welcomed in Japan with a number of invites that didnt need to be made. It looks like a new period in how the international community view and react to Thaksin and one which his enemies will not like. The fact that the convictions came after the (illegal) coup always meant they were going to be on shaky foundations as far as the international community was concerned. Without an anti-Thaksin government installed to shore those up, things really do get rocky. Im sure Thaksin knows this, and it is a major reason he is playing the game hard right now. He has always argued he was unfailry treated and whatever the truth in the matter the more places he visits and the more high profile meets he gets the more it looks as though those governments sympathise with his plight and view the cases as political. And it wasnt helped by it coming out as admitted by Abhisit that the Dems never tried to extradite him with one Dem even intimating foreign governments would view the cases as political. Interesting game of chess

Technically true? So he should have been allowed time to stack the courts, police and army with his cronies?

All coups are by definition illegal, but the only problem I have with that one was the timing - they should have done it while he was in the country and been a bit more "South American' in their approach. A lot of the problems Thailand has experienced in the subsequent years would never have occurred if they had jailed him and his corrupt clan, or used him as an example and shot him out of hand.

So you dont believe in democracy. It isnt perfect but the short cuts available are worse. There is more chance that a non-Thaksin part would be in power now or soon if there had been no coup. The coup legitimised him as "one of us" among the poor. That is the lesson.

Nobody was going to jail him. The Dems darent even try to extradite him. That would have all been far too risky. Why did the courts give him permission to leave?

And the anti-Thaksinistas have spent the last few years stuffing all their cronies into a variety of positions. Was the coup just about letting one lot do it but not his lot?

[scorecard]

I don't like him, or the corruption that went on under his (and all Thai leaders') watches, but he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand and illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did, walk free, with self-granted amnesties in their back pockets.

".......... he was the legally elected Prime Minister of Thailand......." who's term had expired, had tended his resignstion to the head of state, unilaterally re-instated himself, and had failed to hold an election with the required period of time. This would be a more accurate statement of the PM's position at the time of the coup.

Exactly what would you do with a megalomaniac PM who's term has expires and who refuses to leave office?

A further point. Sharecropper, you say 'legally elected'. Well that's very arguable, it's well established that he both bought votes on a massive scale and he manipulated the very easy to manipulate people (in vast numbers) to see him as a saviour. - all very deliberate.

So does the term 'legally elected' actually hold water?

Personally I don't hold much value in statements like ".....illegally overthrown in a military coup, for which the conspirators, who would themselves be incarcerated or worse in other parts of the world for what they did,....."

Thailand has it's own history in terms of the development of democracy etc., and it's own history of what it's military looks at / gets involved in. And that's Thailand's right. The Job Description of the military is different in different countries: UK vs China etc etc.

Up to 1932 the military was one of the major elements of running Thailand as well it's role of protecting Thailand, and it hasn't yet (rightly or wrongly) completely thrown off all of it's original elements.

Many Thais would readily agree that after 1932 the military adjusted part of it's role to being watchdog over politicians. Research shows that the first ever elected parliament was full of scaly characters who were interested in nothing more than their own ego and their own pockets, and unfortunately the overall quality of politicians is still very low.

Also true that some military leaders were just ruthless thugs, and other have been sincere 'watchdogs', with a sincere focus on working for Thailand.

Sorry, but IMHO the 'it wouldn't be allowed in my country' doesn't hold water.

[hammered]

Richard Lloyd Parry covered Thaksin's speech on at the FCCJ on twitter. Nothing really new. Huge turnout for the event though

[webfact]

Thaksin in Japan denies meddling in Thai politics

by Yuka Ito

TOKYO, August 23, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Tuesday on a visit to Japan that he had no immediate plans to go home and denied meddling in the two-week-old government run by his sister.

The one-time billionaire telecom tycoon, toppled in a 2006 coup, is visiting the Asian powerhouse just a fortnight after Yingluck Shinawatra took power, in a trip his critics charge is an attempt to seek the international spotlight.

Thaksin -- who is living in exile in Dubai to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption -- said he was not interfering in his sister's government, although he had helped her party with her election campaign message.

"If they need any advice, they just call me," he said in one of several Tokyo press conferences and speeches. "I can give them advice. But if they don't need it, I would not be involved.

"I want to relax and enjoy my life a little bit."

While Yingluck's government denied making a specific visa request for Thaksin, Tokyo said Bangkok had asked it to allow in the former leader, making an exception to its normal entry rules concerning criminal convictions.

"Coming to Japan is my own right. My sister has nothing to do with it," Thaksin said, adding that "the Thai government cannot force the Japanese government to issue a visa to anyone".

Thaksin, who served as premier between 2001 and 2006, is still loved by many poor and rural Thais but seen by the Bangkok-based elite as authoritarian and a threat to the country's monarchy.

His removal from power by royalist generals heralded five years of political crises, both in the Thai parliament and on the streets, where his foes and supporters have held crippling rival protests.

They culminated in rallies by "Red Shirts" loyal to Thaksin last year, in which more than 90 people died in clashes between the army and demonstrators.

Speaking to journalists in Tokyo, Thaksin said that as "for my plan of going back to Thailand, I have no plan".

"Whenever reconciliation happens, then that might be. But if reconciliation is not there, I don't want to fuel any more conflict. I just want to be part of the solution, not part of the problems".

The previous Democrat-led government accused the fugitive of bankrolling the 2010 Red Shirt rallies and inciting unrest, and a Thai court last year approved an arrest warrant for him on terrorism charges.

Yingluck, a political novice who her brother has described as his "clone", has raised the idea of an amnesty for convicted politicians.

Thaksin reiterated his oft-stated position that he is innocent, saying that if he had committed any crimes, he would be "happy to be in the jail", but that charges against him are "politically motivated".

"I would like to urge every Thai that reconciliation is the key for the stability and prosperity of Thailand," he said.

His Japan visit, which continues until August 28, will include a tour of northeastern areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami -- a path previously trodden by several visiting foreign government leaders and officials.

Thaksin said Thailand should help Japan, just as Japan had aided his country after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, by granting visa-free access to survivors who want to recuperate in his tropical country.

"They might want to get away from the place," Thaksin said. "Thailand should allow them to go to Thailand without a visa... That is one thing that I really want to see. I just want to give moral support to the people there."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-23

[whybother]

"If they need any advice, they just call me," he said in one of several Tokyo press conferences and speeches. "I can give them advice. But if they don't need it, I would not be involved.

So, he's admitting to being involved !!

"Coming to Japan is my own right. My sister has nothing to do with it," Thaksin said, adding that "the Thai government cannot force the Japanese government to issue a visa to anyone".

Who said anything about "forcing" the Japanese to give him a visa. It was just a request from the Thai FM.

His removal from power by royalist generals heralded five years of political crises, both in the Thai parliament and on the streets, where his foes and supporters have held crippling rival protests.

Actually, the political crises started when changed the law so he could sell his company to the Singaporeans.

[OzMick]

That is techincally true. However, it is also true that a coup was an illegal way to resolve what was a constitutional problem. There was a fully elected senate still seated as well as a constitutional court. The coup in retrospect was an utter disaster.

Interestingly Thaksin has been quite warmly welcomed in Japan with a number of invites that didnt need to be made. It looks like a new period in how the international community view and react to Thaksin and one which his enemies will not like. The fact that the convictions came after the (illegal) coup always meant they were going to be on shaky foundations as far as the international community was concerned. Without an anti-Thaksin government installed to shore those up, things really do get rocky. Im sure Thaksin knows this, and it is a major reason he is playing the game hard right now. He has always argued he was unfailry treated and whatever the truth in the matter the more places he visits and the more high profile meets he gets the more it looks as though those governments sympathise with his plight and view the cases as political. And it wasnt helped by it coming out as admitted by Abhisit that the Dems never tried to extradite him with one Dem even intimating foreign governments would view the cases as political. Interesting game of chess

Technically true? So he should have been allowed time to stack the courts, police and army with his cronies?

All coups are by definition illegal, but the only problem I have with that one was the timing - they should have done it while he was in the country and been a bit more "South American' in their approach. A lot of the problems Thailand has experienced in the subsequent years would never have occurred if they had jailed him and his corrupt clan, or used him as an example and shot him out of hand.

So you dont believe in democracy. It isnt perfect but the short cuts available are worse. There is more chance that a non-Thaksin part would be in power now or soon if there had been no coup. The coup legitimised him as "one of us" among the poor. That is the lesson.

Nobody was going to jail him. The Dems darent even try to extradite him. That would have all been far too risky. Why did the courts give him permission to leave?

And the anti-Thaksinistas have spent the last few years stuffing all their cronies into a variety of positions. Was the coup just about letting one lot do it but not his lot?

I believe in democracy, but I believe k.Thaksin has expressed that he does not. I also believe that is in the power of the head of state to remove a PM who refuses to call an election when due. Of course, that can't be discussed, but I will draw a parallel to Henry II.

[Buchholz]

That is techincally true. However, it is also true that a coup was an illegal way to resolve what was a constitutional problem. There was a fully elected senate still seated as well as a constitutional court. The coup in retrospect was an utter disaster.

Interestingly Thaksin has been quite warmly welcomed in Japan with a number of invites that didnt need to be made. It looks like a new period in how the international community view and react to Thaksin and one which his enemies will not like. The fact that the convictions came after the (illegal) coup always meant they were going to be on shaky foundations as far as the international community was concerned. Without an anti-Thaksin government installed to shore those up, things really do get rocky. Im sure Thaksin knows this, and it is a major reason he is playing the game hard right now. He has always argued he was unfailry treated and whatever the truth in the matter the more places he visits and the more high profile meets he gets the more it looks as though those governments sympathise with his plight and view the cases as political. And it wasnt helped by it coming out as admitted by Abhisit that the Dems never tried to extradite him with one Dem even intimating foreign governments would view the cases as political. Interesting game of chess

Technically true? So he should have been allowed time to stack the courts, police and army with his cronies?

All coups are by definition illegal, but the only problem I have with that one was the timing - they should have done it while he was in the country and been a bit more "South American' in their approach. A lot of the problems Thailand has experienced in the subsequent years would never have occurred if they had jailed him and his corrupt clan, or used him as an example and shot him out of hand.

So you dont believe in democracy. It isnt perfect but the short cuts available are worse. There is more chance that a non-Thaksin part would be in power now or soon if there had been no coup. The coup legitimised him as "one of us" among the poor. That is the lesson.

Nobody was going to jail him. The Dems darent even try to extradite him. That would have all been far too risky. Why did the courts give him permission to leave?

And the anti-Thaksinistas have spent the last few years stuffing all their cronies into a variety of positions. Was the coup just about letting one lot do it but not his lot?

I believe in democracy, but I believe k.Thaksin has expressed that he does not.

We would now be in Thaksin's 11th year of power and well on to his promised "20 year rule" ala his SE Asian role model, Marcos.

[Fookhaht]

Consistently throwing around the moniker "convicted criminal" is rhetorical overkill when the original instigation and motivation to seal the conviction was political in nature. Even previously level-headed posters seem to have short memories.

Regardless of your opinion of Thaksin, don't be a short-sided sheep to follow the one-sided party line propaganda. It plays right into their hands to keep the nation divided. Recognize Thaksin's situation for what it is: the result of an illegal coup and the machinations of the resulting puppet government.

I'm happy to see some normalcy starting to return to the government and it's stand on the "convicted criminal" as well as other fiascoes like Khao Pra Vihan and the formerly damaged relationships with ASEAN and the U.N. For the first time since 2006, I see hope returning for Thailand's regional and international reputation and an easing of political rhetoric which tries to pass itself off as common knowledge.

[whybother]

Consistently throwing around the moniker "convicted criminal" is rhetorical overkill when the original instigation and motivation to seal the conviction was political in nature. Even previously level-headed posters seem to have short memories.

Regardless of your opinion of Thaksin, don't be a short-sided sheep to follow the one-sided party line propaganda. It plays right into their hands to keep the nation divided. Recognize Thaksin's situation for what it is: the result of an illegal coup and the machinations of the resulting puppet government.

I'm happy to see some normalcy starting to return to the government and it's stand on the "convicted criminal" as well as other fiascoes like Khao Pra Vihan and the formerly damaged relationships with ASEAN and the U.N. For the first time since 2006, I see hope returning for Thailand's regional and international reputation and an easing of political rhetoric which tries to pass itself off as common knowledge.

Do you mean, he wasn't convicted and he didn't break the law?

[hbullinger]

I am not surprised t see the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan giving Thaksin a platform. It will be safe to expect that the FCCT will do the same the minute Thaksin sets foot into Thailand again. These are by and large the same people who misled their readers and viewers in the West on the nature of the red shirts protests. Maybe they will also invite Khun Jatuporn as a supporting speaker.