Thaksin's Passport Might Be Returned: Thai Foreign Minister

[webfact]

Thaksin's passport might be returned

By The Nation

Foreign minister says world community aware cases against ex-PM are political; reds will urge Arisman to surrender

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday he was considering returning the Thai passport of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I am trying to determine if it was right to seize [Thaksin's] passport. A passport is an important official document required when you travel overseas. It is not different from an identification card. Do convicts get their ID cards seized?" Surapong said.

He added that he was referring to the normal passport - not the diplomatic passport - that the previous government had seized from Thaksin.

The ousted ex-premier, who now travels on a Montenegran passport, has been in self-exile to escape a two-year prison sentence handed down by the Supreme Court in 2008, which found him guilty of abuse of power.

Surapong, an MP from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, was speaking on the sidelines of a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. He said the world community was aware that the cases against Thaksin were politically motivated.

"That's why Interpol did not issue a warrant for his arrest. Some countries can tell what is political and what is not," the foreign minister said.

Regarding critics' remarks that he should be charged with dereliction of duty for his failure to seek Thaksin's arrest while he was in Cambodia, the foreign minister said he and the ministry had no authority to make any arrest.

Surapong noted that Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, when serving as prime minister, did not seek the arrest of red-shirt leader Giles Ungpakorn, who was wanted by Thai authorities for lese majeste, during their meeting in London. He also defended Thaksin for visiting Cambodia recently, saying that Thaksin's trips to different countries - mostly to give lectures - would eventually benefit Thailand.

In a related development, Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong said yesterday he would try to persuade fellow red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong to turn himself in to police to fight charges of terrorism. Kokaew is travelling to Cambodia tomorrow with other red-shirt leaders for a friendly football match between red-shirt politicians and Cambodian government figures. Arisman has been in Cambodia to evade arrest in connection with last year's unrest and riots.

Kokaew said last week that some red-shirt leaders from Thailand had met Arisman and raised the issue of his possible surrender. Arisman responded that he would give himself up soon although he would not say when.

-- The Nation 2011-09-22

[mca]

"I am trying to determine if it was right to seize [Thaksin's] passport. A passport is an important official document required when you travel overseas. It is not different from an identification card. Do convicts get their ID cards seized?" Surapong said.

Me being on the fence regarding things to do with Thaksin I have to say this bloke gives so much ammunition to those who oppose Thaksin he could open a gun club in Somalia.

[endure]

It's soul destroying to watch a country full of energetic lively creative people ground down under the heel of the self-serving selfish greedy minority who don't seem able to grasp that if they unleashed the energy available in this country that EVERYONE would be better off.

[Ricardo]

To be seen by their supporters to be totally fair, how about they return the former-PM's ordinary passport, just as soon as he's been to court on all his outstanding court-cases ? Until then he surely represents a risk of flight, in view of his history ?

[Buchholz]

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday he was considering returning the Thai passport of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

*sigh*

A cousin's work is never done.

Mr. This Government Isn't About One Person puts another task objective for himself to help the same one person after jumping in to request a Japanese visa for his relative.

.

[FOODLOVER]

"I am trying to determine if it was right to seize [Thaksin's] passport. A passport is an important official document required when you travel overseas. It is not different from an identification card. Do convicts get their ID cards seized?" Surapong said.

Yes convicts get their ID and passport taken away and are issued a jumpsuit with their new inmate number on it.

Edited September 22, 2011 by FOODLOVER

[Ricardo]

Shouldn't FM-Surapong, as a relative of the individual concerned, simply exclude himself from having anything to do with the return or non-return of his family-member's passport, purely to avoid giving grounds for any possible allegations of nepotism ?

This would also give him much more time for other more-weighty matters, such as deciding which ASEAN country is next alphabetically, for the new PM to visit ?

[siampolee]

Just to help FM-Surapong with the alphabetizing task that seems to be such a challenge to his good self and the myriad on minions he has at his command

Edited September 22, 2011 by siampolee

[scorecard]

Shouldn't FM-Surapong, as a relative of the individual concerned, simply exclude himself from having anything to do with the return or non-return of his family-member's passport, purely to avoid giving grounds for any possible allegations of nepotism ?

This would also give him much more time for other more-weighty matters, such as deciding which ASEAN country is next alphabetically, for the new PM to visit ?

Well said.

The bottom line is that Surapong trips himself up every times he opens his mouth. Quote "The world know that the charges against thaksin are politically motivated...."

- Anybody seen any evidence of this?

- Why was he banned from entry to numerous countries?

- Does Surapong really think the rest of the world cares?

[scorecard]

It's soul destroying to watch a country full of energetic lively creative people ground down under the heel of the self-serving selfish greedy minority who don't seem able to grasp that if they unleashed the energy available in this country that EVERYONE would be better off.

Totally agree, this country is full of highly capable sincere ethical people who could quickly develop Thailand into a fair and prosperous country with the majority enjoying a good quality of living, and step hard on corruption and collusion.

Why don't they join a party / become ministers etc? Simple, they don't want to be associated with the thieves and leeches who currently own / run political parties.

[Artisi]

Sure, make his new passport available at the departure gate of the Thai prison after serving his 2 year stint. All problems solved.

Edited September 22, 2011 by Artisi

[rogerdee123]

And of course we will hear again ....... "This is not about Thaksin"

[Crushdepth]

It's perfectly reasonable to give a criminal fugitive their passport back. Happens in other tin-pot tyrannies, so why not here?

The blatant nepotism of this regime is positively vomit-inducing. How can you have a government minister openly gaming the system for a relative. Pathetic.

Edited September 22, 2011 by Crushdepth

[Insight]

You can tell Thailand is a safe place for fugitives by the way it looks after its own.

[hammered]

The politics is one thing, but he is right that the charges etc are seen as political in other countries although of course depending on who is in power in Thailand they will blow with the wind and not do much about it.

As an amusing aside, if he wanted to return to Thailand would he currently need a visa on his Montenegran passport?

[rametindallas]

"A passport is an important official document required when you travel overseas. It is not different from an identification card. Do convicts get their ID cards seized?"

Of course if convicts get to keep their ID cards, by all means give Dr. Thaksin a national ID card. He needs it for identification. It they start giving convicts passports, then by all means give Dr. Thaksin a passport.

This guy's twisted logic reminds me of the witch scene in the Monty Python movie 'Holy Grail' where the woman was accused of being a witch and the logic said 'if she weighs the same as a duck, she is a witch and can be burned'

[animatic]

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday he was considering returning the Thai passport of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

*sigh*

A cousin's work is never done.

Mr. This Government Isn't About One Person puts another task objective for himself to help the same one person after jumping in to request a Japanese visa for his relative.

.

Has this "Foriegn Minister" actual stated anything

NOT to do do with Thaksin in his time in office?

I for one can't think of anything not directly linked to Thaksin

or his political interests that has been stated so far.

Stating where Yingluck will go on her first overseas visits and naming Burundi

and Cambodia don't count, since those are both places with Thaksin interests abounding.

All for one and.... well all for the ONE.

[hammered]

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday he was considering returning the Thai passport of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

*sigh*

A cousin's work is never done.

Mr. This Government Isn't About One Person puts another task objective for himself to help the same one person after jumping in to request a Japanese visa for his relative.

.

Has this "Foriegn Minister" actual stated anything

NOT to do do with Thaksin in his time in office?

I for one can't think of anything not directly linked to Thaksin

or his political interests that has been stated so far.

Stating where Yingluck will go on her first overseas visits and naming Burundi

and Cambodia don't count, since those are both places with Thaksin interests abounding.

All for one and.... well all for the ONE.

The FM is the Thaksin minister. Same as last regime, but with a 180 agenda. Classic PTP/PPP/TRT strategy to ape your opponent but from a different angle.

[animatic]

It's soul destroying to watch a country full of energetic lively creative people ground down under the heel of the self-serving selfish greedy minority who don't seem able to grasp that if they unleashed the energy available in this country that EVERYONE would be better off.

Totally agree, this country is full of highly capable sincere ethical people who could quickly develop Thailand into a fair and prosperous country with the majority enjoying a good quality of living, and step hard on corruption and collusion.

Why don't they join a party / become ministers etc? Simple, they don't want to be associated with the thieves and leeches who currently own / run political parties.

Maybe just move government house and the legislature into a prison and lock them all in for life without parol. Bound to clean the country up and let it function properly. Voila, problem solve'ed.

[Thaddeus]

"That's why Interpol did not issue a warrant for his arrest. Some countries can tell what is political and what is not," the foreign minister said.

How to sound dumb in one easy lesson.

Greedy monkeys in suits, nothing more.

[gemini81]

"That's why Interpol did not issue a warrant for his arrest. Some countries can tell what is political and what is not," the foreign minister said.

How to sound dumb in one easy lesson.

Greedy monkeys in suits, nothing more.

as well as how to sound contradictory and short sided as well, being that he's related as well as the fact that the FM's returning of Thaksin's passport is politically motivated too. Boy, this guy isn't too bright. (not that you have to be in order to be in politics here...just born into a rich mafia family).

[rixalex]

The FM is the Thaksin minister. Same as last regime, but with a 180 agenda. Classic PTP/PPP/TRT strategy to ape your opponent but from a different angle.

Once again you neglect to mention the difference in that for the last regime, they had little choice in their position, as Thaksin was continually either smearing them or trying to topple them. No government would simply turn a blind eye to this.

This current government does have a choice. Nobody is particularly going to smear them, or start trying to bring them down with violent street protests, for not bringing Thaksin back and putting him behind bars. Nobody expects that will happen, even though it rightfully should. But to bring him back and whitewash him of all charges, will cause trouble. It is completely unnecessary - well unnecessary for everyone besides Thaksin.

[hammered]

The FM is the Thaksin minister. Same as last regime, but with a 180 agenda. Classic PTP/PPP/TRT strategy to ape your opponent but from a different angle.

Once again you neglect to mention the difference in that for the last regime, they had little choice in their position, as Thaksin was continually either smearing them or trying to topple them. No government would simply turn a blind eye to this.

This current government does have a choice. Nobody is particularly going to smear them, or start trying to bring them down with violent street protests, for not bringing Thaksin back and putting him behind bars. Nobody expects that will happen, even though it rightfully should. But to bring him back and whitewash him of all charges, will cause trouble. It is completely unnecessary - well unnecessary for everyone besides Thaksin.

There is no solution without solving the Thaksin conundrum. Very few would dispute that. Either he has to beaten electorally (his turf) or a deal has to be cut or he wins. A deal would seem the most likely as he looks unbeatable electorally even after a quick gerrymandering of the constituencies and party list system and full use of state power to coerce votes by his opponents and I doubt his opponents would be silly enough to force things to his total victory when even he seems amenable to a deal. And of course the country is going to continue to suffer until the thing is resolved and him doing jail time or stating away while his opponents go scott free and continue to manage Thai democracy is not going to fly as they have also done far too much wrong without any form of sanction and that is now openly seen.

[rametindallas]

The FM is the Thaksin minister. Same as last regime, but with a 180 agenda. Classic PTP/PPP/TRT strategy to ape your opponent but from a different angle.

Once again you neglect to mention the difference in that for the last regime, they had little choice in their position, as Thaksin was continually either smearing them or trying to topple them. No government would simply turn a blind eye to this.

This current government does have a choice. Nobody is particularly going to smear them, or start trying to bring them down with violent street protests, for not bringing Thaksin back and putting him behind bars. Nobody expects that will happen, even though it rightfully should. But to bring him back and whitewash him of all charges, will cause trouble. It is completely unnecessary - well unnecessary for everyone besides Thaksin.

There is no solution without solving the Thaksin conundrum. Very few would dispute that. Either he has to beaten electorally (his turf) or a deal has to be cut or he wins. A deal would seem the most likely as he looks unbeatable electorally even after a quick gerrymandering of the constituencies and party list system and full use of state power to coerce votes by his opponents and I doubt his opponents would be silly enough to force things to his total victory when even he seems amenable to a deal. And of course the country is going to continue to suffer until the thing is resolved and him doing jail time or stating away while his opponents go scott free and continue to manage Thai democracy is not going to fly as they have also done far too much wrong without any form of sanction and that is now openly seen.

Dude, now you're just making stuff up. You're entitled to your own opinions but you are not entitled to your own facts. Please give ONE source where anyone was coerced to vote for the Democrat Party by the 'full use of state power. Please give me a source for you claim of 'a quick gerrymandering of the constituencies. What charges againt the Democrats have been laid that are worse than Dr. Thaksin's proven crimes (except in your own mind)? By your logic, if Dr. Thaksin causes enough problem in Thailand (using his vast wealth) then the solution is to forget Thailand's justice system and just bring him back. There are other solutions than the one's you mentioned, though. The military could mobilise anothe coup or Dr. Thaksin could meet the same fate as Seh Daeng. Both are as unacceptabe as the current government's solution.

[whybother]

There is no solution without solving the Thaksin conundrum. Very few would dispute that. Either he has to beaten electorally (his turf) or a deal has to be cut or he wins. A deal would seem the most likely as he looks unbeatable electorally even after a quick gerrymandering of the constituencies and party list system and full use of state power to coerce votes by his opponents and I doubt his opponents would be silly enough to force things to his total victory when even he seems amenable to a deal. And of course the country is going to continue to suffer until the thing is resolved and him doing jail time or stating away while his opponents go scott free and continue to manage Thai democracy is not going to fly as they have also done far too much wrong without any form of sanction and that is now openly seen.

"gerrymandering of the constituencies"

Didn't that "gerrymandering" include reducing the number of electorates in Bangkok and increasing them in the North East? Yep ... sure going to help the Democrats with that one.

[rubl]

"That's why Interpol did not issue a warrant for his arrest. Some countries can tell what is political and what is not," the foreign minister said.

He also defended Thaksin for visiting Cambodia recently, saying that Thaksin's trips to different countries - mostly to give lectures - would eventually benefit Thailand.

Just a few weeks ago it was said that the request for Interpol to be on the look for k. Thaksin was still being translated into English. So much for political motivated.

As for k. Thaksin's trip to foreign countries benefiting Thailand, that's just another small step to position k. Thaksin in a better light. A fugitive criminal who likes business without the need to pay taxes can hardly be 'beneficial' except for himself.

Doesn't the Foreign Minister have more urgent work to do? With all his 'actions' over the past month it seems he only has one item on his agenda 'bring back Thaksin and give him a free pass(port).

Edited September 22, 2011 by rubl

[geriatrickid]

The statement Foreign minister says world community aware cases against ex-PM are political must be upsetting for some of you.

That's the reality. Deal with it.

[robint]

Ok guys here's the deal

I lay 10 to 1 on that The Man returns triumphantly to LOS within 2 years

OH! sorry pardon, no gambling allowed in LOS, can't take your bets (well not till The Man gets back and opens all those dormant casinos)

like the one on the top floor of a certain appartment complex south of pattaya, now populated by the Bear

as the song goes

There may be trouble ahead .......

Lets face the music and dance ...... before we get kicked out when The Man gets back.

Party till you drop

[rixalex]

There is no solution without solving the Thaksin conundrum. Very few would dispute that. Either he has to beaten electorally (his turf) or a deal has to be cut or he wins. A deal would seem the most likely as he looks unbeatable electorally even after a quick gerrymandering of the constituencies and party list system and full use of state power to coerce votes by his opponents and I doubt his opponents would be silly enough to force things to his total victory when even he seems amenable to a deal. And of course the country is going to continue to suffer until the thing is resolved and him doing jail time or stating away while his opponents go scott free and continue to manage Thai democracy is not going to fly as they have also done far too much wrong without any form of sanction and that is now openly seen.

I don't see as quite the conundrum you do. Were there a self-organised group with the sole purpose of bringing Thaksin back free of all charges, whatever it took, that wasn't being funded, led or overseen by Thaksin himself, that would be a conundrum. Were there a group with the sole purpose of bringing Thaksin back and putting him behind bars, whatever it took, that would be a conundrum.

Fact is, neither of these types of groups exist.

If Thaksin simply stays away, ok the anti Thaksin people will grumble about him evading justice, and the pro Thaksin people will grumble about him being unfairly treated, but it is a status quo of sorts that all on both sides can learn to live with. Well, all except for one. All we need do now is find a way of getting Thaksin to accept the sacrifice of him living a quiet life outside of Thailand as being in the best interests of the country. How difficult can that be?

[Buchholz]

The statement Foreign minister says world community aware cases against ex-PM are political must be upsetting for some of you.

That's the reality. Deal with it.

The "real" actual quote is a bit different and probably true...

"Some countries can tell what is political and what is not," the foreign minister said.

with the opposite true as well.... some countries can't tell the difference.

I would, however, like to see which country's leader has specifically stated that the charges against Thaksin are political.

I mean if that is, in fact, "the reality", it should exist, right?

.