U-Turn Seen On Thaksin Passport

[webfact]

U-turn seen on Thaksin passport

Nanthida Phuangthong

The Nation

Foreign Ministry request for 30 days to reply to Ombudsman is step towards revocation, source says

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Ministry appears set to revoke former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai passport after requesting another 30 days to respond to a recommendation by the Office of the Ombudsman that it review the issuance of the document, a high-ranking ministry source said yesterday.

The ministry needs the 30-day period from today for the "complete compilation of relevant documents", according to its reply to the Ombudsman's Office, which submitted its recommendation to the ministry on September 13. The source, citing an agreement by ministry officials responsible for visa issuance, said the delay would likely result in the ministry having to revoke the passport.

The office said it has received the ministry's written request for the 30-day period and would grant the extension if it sees fit.

"The issue would have dragged on anyway, had the ministry insisted on [standing by its] issuance of the passport to Thaksin, as the Ombudsman's Office would likely pursue the matter through other channels, including the ultimate means - through a complaint with the Administrative Court," he added.

"And when the matter reaches the Administrative Court, there would be many people held responsible, all of whom are ministry officials, ranging from the head of the visa division and the director-general of the Consular Department to the permanent secretary," the source said.

"The ministry will also submit inquiries to the Consular Department and the Royal Thai Police as to whether they would still need to summon Thaksin for prosecution. And coupled with their likely replies to the summons, the ministry has no choice but to review its policy on the passport for Thaksin," he said.

Another factor prompting the ministry leadership to rethink the passport issue is an objection voiced by former foreign minister Kasit Piromya. The objection rendered weightless an earlier assertion by the ministry - which is currently under Pheu Thai leadership - that no objections to issuing a passport to Thaksin had been forthcoming.

Hesitation among the ministry's leadership over the matter has also emerged since Sihasak Phuangketkeow became permanent secretary, taking over from predecessor Theerakul Niyom, who was the one who decided to issue the passport. Sihasak has been left to decide how to respond to the Ombudsman's Office, the source said.

"These [factors] have all now contributed in the requested 30-day time frame, and likely revocation," he added.

In September, the Ombudsman's Office advised the Foreign Ministry to review its decision to issue a new passport to Thaksin. It said it was illegal to issue the passport to the fugitive former premier, who fled a court verdict in 2008 that sentenced him to two years in jail for abuse of power.

In response, the ministry said it would study the Ombudsman's recommendation that Thaksin's passport be revoked and that it would handle the case in accordance with laws and regulations.

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where the ex-leader has been living in self-exile.

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against Thaksin for failing to show up to hear the court’s decision in the Krung Thai Bank loan scandal case.

-- The Nation 2012-10-13

[Roadman]

A Royal Thai police summons of Thaksin would be something worth seeing. It would certainly be another although major group who may wish to see the back end of the crim, giving that the numbers against him from balanced fields is mounting. Pretty girl should take heed and arse him and his main mob out of Pheu Thai and look to build something with those with some credibility...even the Dems would probably support.

Either way it is pleasing to see that general opinion is starting to ease Thaksins slimmy slithers from the cookies.

[OzMick]

" via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi" ???

As I understood it, the MoFA hand delivered, probably on his knees.

[Thai at Heart]

Interesting that this story slithers out on a Saturday

Good to hear they might revoke it.

[Tatsujin]

Lots of talk, let's wait and see ...

[KireB]

What a loss of face if his passport is revoked, both for the criminal as for the foreign minister.

[animatic]

"And when the matter reaches the Administrative Court, there would be many people held responsible, all of whom are ministry officials, ranging from the head of the visa division and the director-general of the Consular Department to the permanent secretary," the source said.

There is the real reasons, they need the 30 days to cut back on, or decided,

which heads will roll for the liege lord, swords to fall upon being readied,

and 'compensations' for said sacrificial officials allocated.

Basically the passport was hardly likely to be legal, but channels had to be

gone through, and be seen to be gone through, to rescind it, and over ride

'the cousin in chiefs' little favor for the big boss man.

If they let it go too long, then the Admin C. could decimate a chain of pro Thaksin lackeys

in the F. Ministry and possible cause contra-Thaksin ones to come in and block up the

chain of command. So we get the '30 day paper shuffle stall' and lots of hustling behind

the scenes, to determine where blame should fall when it is revoked, and limit that damage

to the fewest useful idiots.

[lizardtongue]

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The old boys network will probably see it reissued again at some point in time! If not I would suspect that with his wealth he could obtain a Hong kong/Cambodian passport?

I guess that without a passport he would be unable to obtain and meet visa requirements which would in turn see him deported back to Thailand?

Let the games begin!

[Bagwan]

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The old boys network will probably see it reissued again at some point in time! If not I would suspect that with his wealth he could obtain a Hong kong/Cambodian passport?

I guess that without a passport he would be unable to obtain and meet visa requirements which would in turn see him deported back to Thailand?

Let the games begin!

Would he actually be deported to Thailand? My understanding of UK practice is that if a foreigner is refused entry to the UK he is deported to the country that he/she entered the country from rather than his own country. Wouldn't that be standard World practice? Furthermore the airline or shipping company bringing the refusee have to take away him/her at their expense. What happens if the undesirable arrives by hang glider? You could sell tickets to see him/her launch themselves off the White Cliffs of Dover or at Land's End.

[Ricardo]

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The old boys network will probably see it reissued again at some point in time! If not I would suspect that with his wealth he could obtain a Hong kong/Cambodian passport?

I guess that without a passport he would be unable to obtain and meet visa requirements which would in turn see him deported back to Thailand?

Let the games begin!

No, he would merely go back to using one of his several other passports, as he did previously.

But it would involve further loss-of-face, if publicised here at 'home'.

[Thai at Heart]

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The old boys network will probably see it reissued again at some point in time! If not I would suspect that with his wealth he could obtain a Hong kong/Cambodian passport?

I guess that without a passport he would be unable to obtain and meet visa requirements which would in turn see him deported back to Thailand?

Let the games begin!

Would he actually be deported to Thailand? My understanding of UK practice is that if a foreigner is refused entry to the UK he is deported to the country that he/she entered the country from rather than his own country. Wouldn't that be standard World practice? Furthermore the airline or shipping company bringing the refusee have to take away him/her at their expense. What happens if the undesirable arrives by hang glider? You could sell tickets to see him/her launch themselves off the White Cliffs of Dover or at Land's End.

He's got other passports anyway. It was just a symbolic thing.

[asiawatcher]

"And when the matter reaches the Administrative Court, there would be many people held responsible, all of whom are ministry officials, ranging from the head of the visa division and the director-general of the Consular Department to the permanent secretary," the source said.

There is the real reasons, they need the 30 days to cut back on, or decided,

which heads will roll for the liege lord, swords to fall upon being readied,

and 'compensations' for said sacrificial officials allocated.

Basically the passport was hardly likely to be legal, but channels had to be

gone through, and be seen to be gone through, to rescind it, and over ride

'the cousin in chiefs' little favor for the big boss man.

If they let it go too long, then the Admin C. could decimate a chain of pro Thaksin lackeys

in the F. Ministry and possible cause contra-Thaksin ones to come in and block up the

chain of command. So we get the '30 day paper shuffle stall' and lots of hustling behind

the scenes, to determine where blame should fall when it is revoked, and limit that damage

to the fewest useful idiots.

[virtualtraveller]

two blows in a week from the Establishment, first the arrest warrant, then the ombudsman doing this, I bet he'll call it all politically motivated, and within a week pop up in Zimbabwe with Noppodom Pattama still pointing out he's free to travel the world on any passport he likes cause no one recognises a Thai arrest warrant.

[tomross46]

Give the FM 30 more days, on day 29 he will be replaced and another FM will be appointed, which will need motr time to evaluate the process. Oh, he will need an additional 30 days also.

[Buchholz]

Lots of talk, let's wait and see ...

Indeed, presuming the Cousin Foreign Minister will make a U-Turn is quite presumptuous.

.

[hellodolly]

No real difference. Cambodian Passport would be a slam Dunk for him. The only thing here is he loses face and some more of his followers fall on their swords for him.

Now would be a good time for Yingluck to step in and build up her own following by dangling ministerial positions to people willing to back Thaksin's immediate revocation of his passport. It would give her some of her own support as well as do what is going to be done eventually any how.

[ableguy]

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The old boys network will probably see it reissued again at some point in time! If not I would suspect that with his wealth he could obtain a Hong kong/Cambodian passport?

I guess that without a passport he would be unable to obtain and meet visa requirements which would in turn see him deported back to Thailand?

Let the games begin!

Are you aware he has a passport issued by Montenegro ?

[ableguy]

No real difference. Cambodian Passport would be a slam Dunk for him. The only thing here is he loses face and some more of his followers fall on their swords for him.

Now would be a good time for Yingluck to step in and build up her own following by dangling ministerial positions to people willing to back Thaksin's immediate revocation of his passport. It would give her some of her own support as well as do what is going to be done eventually any how.

Yinluck is her brother he controls the cash she could never abandon him she would not last two minutes.

[ratcatcher]

No real difference. Cambodian Passport would be a slam Dunk for him. The only thing here is he loses face and some more of his followers fall on their swords for him.

Now would be a good time for Yingluck to step in and build up her own following by dangling ministerial positions to people willing to back Thaksin's immediate revocation of his passport. It would give her some of her own support as well as do what is going to be done eventually any how.

Yinluck is her brother he controls the cash she could never abandon him she would not last two minutes.

Not be a picker of nits, but didn't you mean "Yingluck is his sister, she could never abandon him, he controls the cash"?

[animatic]

Lots of talk, let's wait and see ...

Indeed, presuming the Cousin Foreign Minister will make a U-Turn is quite presumptuous.

.

Which is why this thrust is aimed at the Permanent Ministry Staff actions.

They know appointee cousin will not move, but the legal chain below him is open for attack.

[otherstuff1957]

They probably need 30 days to get rid of the Ombudsman & appoint a more malleable one!

[bigbamboo]

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The old boys network will probably see it reissued again at some point in time! If not I would suspect that with his wealth he could obtain a Hong kong/Cambodian passport?

I guess that without a passport he would be unable to obtain and meet visa requirements which would in turn see him deported back to Thailand?

Let the games begin!

Who knows he may be and when he arrives in Thailand will be put under house arrest ( with comparisons made to Aung sang Suu Kyi) on a charge of having improper documenation...... a very serious charge in Thailand which would take precedence over that piffling two year prison sentence for fraud.

He could stay chez Yingluck. That would make running the country a lot easier too.

[TPI]

Where are the "Black Ops" when you need them? Then the passport problem would be irrelevant!

[FarangTalk]

Now would be a good time for Yingluck to step in and build up her own following

Hilarious.

Keep 'em coming, you really brightened up my afternoon with that one!

[473geo]

Brilliant move by PTP, Thaksin had no real requirement for a Thai passport, turning the insistant clamour to have it revoked into a feather of fairness and judgement in the PTP cap,also accentuating the PTP adherance to legal responsibilities is good news for Thailand.

Edited October 13, 2012 by 473geo

[rubl]

Brilliant move by PTP, Thaksin had no real requirement for a Thai passport, turning the insistant clamour to have it revoked into a feather of fairness and judgement in the PTP cap,also accentuating the PTP adherance to legal responsibilities is good news for Thailand.

Brilliant move by PTP? More like an illegal move by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to have effected the issuing of a new passport while not only his office was flooded, but a larger part of the Thai population was suffering and if revoked just a correction of a procedural or probably even legal fault. Poor judgement of the government or just a cabinet minister.

In some countries including your own the MoFA would have been removed from office already and under further investigation.

[Arkady]

Thaksin's Thai passport was revoked in April 2009 by then foreign minister Kasit. The current minister, Surapong Towichukchaikul, issued Thaksin a new one in October last year via the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The old boys network will probably see it reissued again at some point in time! If not I would suspect that with his wealth he could obtain a Hong kong/Cambodian passport?

I guess that without a passport he would be unable to obtain and meet visa requirements which would in turn see him deported back to Thailand?

Let the games begin!

Are you aware he has a passport issued by Montenegro ?

He is on record proclaiming how happy he was to have gained Montenegrin citizenship before a crowd of journalists in Montenegro. Presumably he also got the passport too at the time as that was before he got his Thai passport back. Before that he was an honorary Nicaraguan ambassador and presumably had a Nicaraguan passport. However, the Nicaraguan honorary ambassador thing apparently carries a high price tag and renewal fees. So he probably ditched that after he became Montenegrin.

[rixalex]

Brilliant move by PTP, Thaksin had no real requirement for a Thai passport, turning the insistant clamour to have it revoked into a feather of fairness and judgement in the PTP cap,also accentuating the PTP adherance to legal responsibilities is good news for Thailand.

Thaksin did have a real requirement for the passport. No, not for travelling, but for what the document symbolised. Having his passport revoked was a matter of embarrassment, and having it reissued helped redress that.

Having it revoked again, should it come to that, will be even more embarrassing as this time it will be his own party in power, and you can bet, it won't happen without an almighty fight from PTP, and without a lot of legal wriggling. Anyone who believes what they are saying in public about it being "no biggie", and who interprets their moves as a feather of fairness and judgement, is clearly in a deeply deluded state, especially when considering the way they went about reissuing said passport during the floods.

[473geo]

Brilliant move by PTP, Thaksin had no real requirement for a Thai passport, turning the insistant clamour to have it revoked into a feather of fairness and judgement in the PTP cap,also accentuating the PTP adherance to legal responsibilities is good news for Thailand.

Thaksin did have a real requirement for the passport. No, not for travelling, but for what the document symbolised. Having his passport revoked was a matter of embarrassment, and having it reissued helped redress that.

Having it revoked again, should it come to that, will be even more embarrassing as this time it will be his own party in power, and you can bet, it won't happen without an almighty fight from PTP, and without a lot of legal wriggling. Anyone who believes what they are saying in public about it being "no biggie", and who interprets their moves as a feather of fairness and judgement, is clearly in a deeply deluded state, especially when considering the way they went about reissuing said passport during the floods.

Thank god he was abroad when it was issued, otherwise his passport may have been dropped in the Bangkok flood and ruined, another smart move by PTP

Really rixalex the deluded people are surely those that think the time taken by a handful of staff to produce one passport made any difference to the tons of water cascading through Bangkok........

Can't you guys come up with something better than that.......I guess not...

[rixalex]

Thank god he was abroad when it was issued, otherwise his passport may have been dropped in the Bangkok flood and ruined, another smart move by PTP

Really rixalex the deluded people are surely those that think the time taken by a handful of staff to produce one passport made any difference to the tons of water cascading through Bangkok........

Can't you guys come up with something better than that.......I guess not...

If you think that the producing of a passport, in these sorts of circumstances - both the circumstances of the "applicant" and the circumstances that the country was in at the time, would take a handful of staff at matter of moments, well then you obviously aren't very familiar with Thai bureaucracy.

And no, i'm not saying that the reissuing of the passport made the floods any worse, but i am saying that at that time, people had a right to expect the government to be singularly focused on the matter of dealing with the disaster and its victims. It is after all, not like they were on top of that as it was.