Thaksin Kicks Off U.S. Trip With Cheers And Jeers

[webfact]

Thaksin kicks off US trip with cheers and jeers

The Nation

NEW YORK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra kicked off a two-week visit to the United States by dining at Pongsri, a popular Thai restaurant in New York, to which he was escorted by several South Korean bodyguards.

At the restaurant he was welcomed by a group of red-shirt supporters, while his yellow-shirt foes were also on hand to boo him.

Yellow-shirt supporters living in the US plan to hold a rally at the Thai Embassy in Washington today to voice their dissent.

In Bangkok, Green Politics Group coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said the US authorities had shamelessly granted a tourist visa to a fugitive just so they can get Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's support to expand in Southeast Asia.

The US has an extradition treaty and mutual legal assistance agreement with Thailand, and hence there is no excuse for it not to arrest Thaksin, who is fleeing a two-year jail sentence, he said.

Should the United States fail to take Thaksin into custody, it could be translated as the US government having no regard for the Thai judicial system, he said.

Suriyasai added that he had no hopes for the government to initiate an extradition request, adding that he wanted the Supreme Court to take action in protecting the Thai judiciary's integrity, which he said was being tampered with by the US.

He added that he was disappointed that Washington had decided to ignore the cases in which the Thaksin government violated human rights to further its military and energy interests.

-- The Nation 2012-08-09

[BuckarooBanzai]

Rather myopic news article.

[Soutpeel]

Ah but the problem Khun Suriyasai is that for an arrest and extradition to take place, the country were the criminal is wanted has to requested it, if Thailand doesnt request his arrest the US will do nothing, however has the US acted inappropriately in this case granting a visa to a well know fugitive....most certainly

[jaltsc]

"Should the United States fail to take Thaksin into custody, it could be translated as the US government having no regard for the Thai judicial system, he said."

I'm perplexed. I wonder why any country would have no regard for a judicial system that just allowed bail for, and released a number of convicted murderers who were on death row.

[rijb]

Maybe the U.S. asked the Thai government before they issued the visa. And maybe they also agreed to no extradition. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes that we don't know about.

[rkidlad]

Should the United States fail to take Thaksin into custody, it could be translated as the US government having no regard for the Thai judicial system, he said.

I know of many rich locals here who also have no regard for the Thai judicial system. But of course they are rich and Thai, and it's their god given right to flout the law.

[GeorgeO]

The US serves only to deepen the divide in Thailand. Of course the Thai government will not ask for the extradition of this criminal, given that the government is currently headed by his sister; however, since this clearly gives rise to a conflict of interest, the courts should be able to issue such a request, circumventing those involved in such conflict of interest.

[waza]

How embarassing, at least there wasnt an official welcome.

Thaksin in New York to attend the United Nations

Thaksin appeared to be accompanied by three Thai bodyguards in the typical red shirts.

He was greeted by the owner and staff of the Pongsri Thai restaurant in the central Manhattan section of New York City........

There has been no word from Washington on how he obtained a visa, or got past Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the New York airport, since US law bans convicted felons from receiving visas or entering the US.

On the other hand, the US government can give waivers. It was not known if this had happened in Thaksin’s case. It also is unknown whether he used his Thai passport or one from another country. http://kualalumpurpost.net/thaksin-in-new-york-to-attend-the-united-nations/

Edited August 9, 2012 by waza

[rijb]

"deepen the divide" That's quaint. How deep was the divide before this dastardly act by the U.S.?

[GentlemanJim]

Maybe the U.S. asked the Thai government before they issued the visa. And maybe they also agreed to no extradition. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes that we don't know about.

But if that's the case, how do you know about it?

[rijb]

We have to wait for wiki-leaks.

[krisb]

Is that 1 of his Sth Korean bodyguards in the pic? looks a lil old to me

[MunterHunter]

Wait a bit, and soon Yingluck will be doing a photo op with Pee T.

As much as i dislike PTP and YL, i really do hope that not even she is this stupid...

[saltandpepper]

Wait a bit, and soon Yingluck will be doing a photo op with Pee T.

As much as i dislike PTP and YL, i really do hope that not even she is this stupid...

Near future will tell.

[Soutpeel]

Is that 1 of his Sth Korean bodyguards in the pic? looks a lil old to me

Bet its the owner of the restaurant..

[carra]

So, now we know!

It was all arranged by the Thai Government for DL to be allowed to step foot on US soil, and not be arrested.

How can we be surprised? MP's pay regular visits, Chief of Police goes and great,.. Not one has done his duty, which was to try to catch and bring Thaksin back to face the music. So, him being in the US now is just the logic thing to see. Wait a bit, and soon Yingluck will be doing a photo op with Pee T.

DL?

[Thai at Heart]

How embarassing, at least there wasnt an official welcome.

Thaksin in New York to attend the United Nations

Thaksin appeared to be accompanied by three Thai bodyguards in the typical red shirts.

He was greeted by the owner and staff of the Pongsri Thai restaurant in the central Manhattan section of New York City........

There has been no word from Washington on how he obtained a visa, or got past Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the New York airport, since US law bans convicted felons from receiving visas or entering the US.

On the other hand, the US government can give waivers. It was not known if this had happened in Thaksin’s case. It also is unknown whether he used his Thai passport or one from another country. http://kualalumpurpo...united-nations/

Well, the headline in the Kuala Lumpur post is nearly as badly written as though it is from our very own the Nation. There isn't a single word mentioned in the article that he is visiting the UN. Anyway, one can only conclude, that someone somewhere, has decided that they can explain away that Thaksin's conviction is politically motivated. Has there ever been such a public situation where a convicted politician has been granted entry to the US.

On what grounds could it be that a convicted crimminal is admitted, other than to have it explained away that it was politically motivated? At a point even Amy Winehouse was refused, maybe they didn't like her voice, and as for Jermaine Pennant, well, he was crap anyway.

[thaicbr]

Should the United States fail to take Thaksin into custody, it could be translated as the US government having no regard for the Thai judicial system, he said.

I know of many rich locals here who also have no regard for the Thai judicial system. But of course they are rich and Thai, and it's their god given right to flout the law.

What!!! Thaksin is NOT rich and Thai also...

sent from my Wellcom A90+

[waza]

Hmmm notice the third hand scratching Thaksins butt!

Sometimes the Carlyle Group go too far

The Carlyle Group is an American-based global asset management firm, specializing in private equity, based in Washington, D.C. http://en.wikipedia....i/Carlyle_Group

Thaksin had been overtly working for foreign corporate-financier interests, most notably the notorious Carlyle Group, long before even taking office in 2001..........In all, Thaksin was an autocratic, mass-murdering tyrant who effectively eliminated judicial measures designed to reel in such abuses of power. On September 18, 2006, on the eve of the military coup that unseated him from power, Thaksin was before the corporate-financier Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, providing the council with a progress report and reaffirming his ties to Wall Street and London. http://thearrowsoftr.../carlyle-group/

What's wrong is a system completely controlled by a corporate-financier oligarchy with financial, media, and industrial empires that span the globe.........

International Crisis Group,

Background: While the International Crisis Group (ICG) claims to be "committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict," the reality is that they are committed to offering solutions crafted well in advance to problems they themselves have created in order to perpetuate their own corporate agenda.........

Nowhere can this be better illustrated than in Thailand and more recently in Egypt. ICG member Kenneth Adelman had been backing Thailand's Prime Minster Thaksin Shinwatra, a former Carlyle Group adviser who was was literally standing in front of the CFR in NYC on the eve of his ousting from power in a 2006 military coup. Since 2006, Thaksin's meddling in Thailand has been propped up by fellow Carlyle man James Baker and his Baker Botts law firm...... and now Robert Amsterdam's Amsterdam & Peroff, a major corporate member of the globalist Chatham House. http://www.thomhartm...s-institute-cfr

Edited August 9, 2012 by waza

[OzMick]

I can only hope the Yanks give him the same warm treatment they gave to a famous Aussie visitor, Phar Lap.

[Ricardo]

DL?

Dear Leader, Fearless Leader, the Big Boss and the Head-Waiter are common nicknames for a revered (by some) ex-politician, who happily 'Quit Thai Politics' several years ago.

[carra]

ah so it is another breach of forum rules by not using the correct name, ok I get it now

[OzMick]

ah so it is another breach of forum rules by not using the correct name, ok I get it now

do your thai friends call you Phar Lap?

[Scott]

A large number of off-topic posts have been deleted. This is not a private conversation between a few posters, it is a public forum. Further off-topic, baiting and inflammatory posts are going to result in posting suspensions.

[Skywalker69]

South Korean bodyguards.

So he don´t trust Thais?

[coma]

Hope he chokes on a rack ribs there. Or maybe he is there to personally deliver a donation to Mr Obama's re-election campaign.

Edited August 9, 2012 by coma

[Skywalker69]

Hope he chokes on a rack ribbs there. Maybe he is there to personally deliver a donation to Mr Obama's re-election campaign.

Or to meet his friend G.B Jr .

[coma]

Is that 1 of his Sth Korean bodyguards in the pic? looks a lil old to me

I heard it was just some guy walking by that they paid 200 baht for him to stand there and look all friendly for the photo.

[coma]

South Korean bodyguards.

So he don´t trust Thais?

South Korean bodyguards.

So he don´t trust Thais?

Would you employ a Thai as your personnal bodyguard ?

[h90]

"Should the United States fail to take Thaksin into custody, it could be translated as the US government having no regard for the Thai judicial system, he said."

I'm perplexed. I wonder why any country would have no regard for a judicial system that just allowed bail for, and released a number of convicted murderers who were on death row.

And since when did the USA regard the laws of any other country?