Court dismisses action brought by Thaksin

[firestar]

Because his sister and her government provided him with a diplomatic passport.

Again, even if this is true, it happened after the military dictatorship. It does not answer the question why he was never extradited during the military dictatorship.

The answer to that should be quite obvious. How long was it before Pinochet had an international warrant served against him? I hope your getting this. The world doesn't turn on a dime and neither does justice.

Except in this case Thaksin's opponents had ample time in Government to submit charges to Interpol, why didn't they? Surely it wasn't because they wanted to cut Thaksin some slack, can't see any reason other than them fearing it would be rejected.

[SheungWan]

I guess for the same reason Thaksin is running around with a valid Thai passport illegally issued, because his government is looking after him.

They could have sought extradition during the military dictatorship as well. Why didn't they? The only reason I can think of is that the rest of the world knows that these are trumped up charges.

Would you be referring to the period when Thaksin's relative was the PM? As for the charges re money laundering, Thaksin's lawyers did not challenge the evidence of stuffing money through the family.

[Baerboxer]

"Thaksin, who is now in self-exile" AKA on the run.

If Thaksin is so guilty, how come no country will extradite him? He's freely travelling to countries like U.S and Singapore without being arrested.

It's funny how you people keep re-iterating how corrupt Thailand is. But you only apply that corruption where it suits you.

In order to be extradited, the Thai authorities would need to make an extradition request and seek to have him extradited from a country that has an extradition treaty with Thailand.

Seeing as how his sister and cousin illegally issued a new passport to him. for which the refuse to answer questions on; do you really see them seeking extradition?

[newcomer71]

Because his sister and her government provided him with a diplomatic passport.

Again, even if this is true, it happened after the military dictatorship. It does not answer the question why he was never extradited during the military dictatorship.

The answer to that should be quite obvious. How long was it before Pinochet had an international warrant served against him? I hope your getting this. The world doesn't turn on a dime and neither does justice.

For who is not biased and need a balanced version of why Thaksin is not wanted abroad is because the request to Interpol was never submitted by Abhisit and if it was deemed politically motivated by Interpol they could not help anything. There's a nice piece from AFP about it...

There have been dozen of investigiations about his extrajudicial killings and they cannot prove he was behind the fact, neither that most of them were extrajudicial killings. Must be noted that someone very very high praised Thaksin for his war against drug...

This does not save Thaksin from the fact he created a network of cronies and relatives ready to govern Thailand with his deep influence.

Let's hope someone more serious of Suthep band will be able to instill a serious democracy and not a puppet one.

Edited December 27, 2013 by newcomer71

[firestar]

"Thaksin, who is now in self-exile" AKA on the run.

If Thaksin is so guilty, how come no country will extradite him? He's freely travelling to countries like U.S and Singapore without being arrested.

It's funny how you people keep re-iterating how corrupt Thailand is. But you only apply that corruption where it suits you.

In order to be extradited, the Thai authorities would need to make an extradition request and seek to have him extradited from a country that has an extradition treaty with Thailand.

Seeing as how his sister and cousin illegally issued a new passport to him. for which the refuse to answer questions on; do you really see them seeking extradition?

You are not answering the question why no extradition request was submitted in the years before Yingluck?

[arthurwait]

Nope. It was debunked. He was at the time still the owner of Manchester City had they seized his assets why didn't they seize Manchester City?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra

Purchase of Manchester City Football Club[edit]

As prime minister, Thaksin had unsuccessfully sought to buy the English Premier League football clubs Fulham and later Liverpool, in what critics claimed was a publicity stunt in response to his political problems.^[149]

On 21 June 2007, now out of office, he bought Premier League club Manchester City for £81.6 million.^[150] He became briefly popular with fans (who nicknamed him 'Frank'^[151])^{[citation needed]}, especially after appointing Sven-Göran Eriksson manager of the club and bringing in prominent players.^[152] Eriksson was later critical of Thaksin's running of the club, saying "he [Thaksin] didn't understand football – he hadn't a clue."^[153] He sold the club to investors from Abu Dhabi United Group in September 2008 for a reported £200 million.^[154]

After selling Manchester City Football Club, Thaksin was nominated as "honorary president" but does not have any administrative responsibilities.^[155] However, he was later dismissed from ­honorary club president after the club has decided to take a position against him following his conviction and is currently "on the run" from Thai Authorities.^[156]

Convictions and exile[edit]

In May 2007, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Thaksin was free to return to Thailand, and he would personally guarantee Thaksin's safety. In January 2008 Thaksin's wife Potjaman was arrested on arrival in Bangkok but released on bail after appearing at the Supreme Court, with orders not to leave the country.^[157] She was set to be tried for alleged violation of stock-trading and land sale laws.^[158]

On 28 February 2008, Thaksin arrived in Bangkok after 17 months in exile. Thaksin again stated he would not re-enter politics and wished to focus on his football interests.^[159][160] In March Thaksin pleaded not guilty before the Supreme Court in one of his two criminal corruption cases. He was ordered to report back on 11 April after the court granted a month long trip to England.^[161]

In June the Supreme Court denied Thaksin's request to travel to China and Britain, since his corruption case was set for trial and was ordered to surrender his passport after arraignment.^[162][163] In July the Court assumed jurisdiction over the fourth corruption charge against Thaksin concerning the soft loans to Burma. The court also agreed to hear allegations that Thaksin, his former cabinet, and three members of the current government, broke anti-gambling laws by setting up the new state lottery in 2003.^[164][165]

Potjaman was found guilty on 31 July and sentenced to three years imprisonment, but released on bail. The Bangkok Criminal Court also convicted her adopted brother Bhanapot Damapong and her secretary, who allegedly held assets for Thaksin by proxy, of tax evasion.^[166][167]

Request for asylum in the United Kingdom[edit]

On 10 August 2008, Thaksin and Potjaman violated the bail term by attending the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Beijing.^[168] Stating that he wishes to return to Thailand but claimed it was not currently safe for him and his family.^[169][170] Thaksin wishes to seek political asylum in the United Kingdom,^[171] claiming his political enemies were interfering with the judiciary, however there is no evidence to suggest he proceeded with this request and his asylum case was neither approved nor declined.

The Thailand Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions issued a second arrest warrant on 16 September 2008 against Thaksin over another of the four pending corruption cases and ordered suspension of the trial.^[172][173] Several more arrest warrants were issued over subsequent no-shows at various corruption trials.^{[174][175][176][177][178]}

Ratchadaphisek land verdict[edit]

See also: Potjaman Shinawatra#Ratchadaphisek land purchase controversy

On 21 October 2008, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions ruled that Thaksin, while prime minister, abused his power to help his wife buy public land at auction, and sentenced him to two years in jail.^[179]

Soon after, Thaksin told Reuters, "I have been informed of the result. I had long anticipated that it would turn out this way", and added that the case was politically motivated.^[180]

Chief prosecutor Seksan Bangsombun called on Britain to extradite him.^[181] Thaksin now denied he was seeking political asylum in Britain.^[182]

Self-imposed exile[edit]

On 10 November 2008, a Philippine spokesman said his government would "politely" turn down any request for political refuge from Thaksin due to Manila's "friendly" relations with Bangkok^{[183][184][185]}

The British Government Home Office, meanwhile, revoked Potjaman and Thaksin's visas due to their convictions, while the Bangkok British Embassy e-mailed airlines directing them to disallow either of them to board flights to Britain.^[186] In late 2008, Arabian Business reported after an exclusive interview that the UK froze $4.2 billion of his assets in the UK. However, the UK government has not confirmed or denied this claim.^[187]

Thaksin had reportedly considered sanctuaries such as China, the Bahamas, Nicaragua, and several other countries in South America and Africa. Reports said the Shinawatras were granted honorary citizenship by the Bahamas and Nicaragua, and were building a £5.5 million home in China. As of late May 2009, he reportedly remained in Dubai.^{[188][189][190]} A spokesman claimed Thaksin was traveling on six passports, none of them Thai.^[191] In December 2008 Thaksin obtained a residency permit for Germany^[192] which was subsequently withdrawn on 28 May 2009 when the German government became aware of the arrangement. Thaksin then obtained status as a diplomat of Nicaragua.^[192][193]Guido Westerwelle, German foreign minister, has lifted the travel restriction banning Thaksin from entering Germany on 15 July 2011 after election victory of Thaksin's proxy party.^[192]

In a November 2009 interview, Thaksin told The Times that he was living in Dubai, still had access to about $100 million of his money outside of Thailand, and was investing in gold mines, diamond polishing and lottery licenses in various countries.^[194]

[SheungWan]

Except in this case Thaksin's opponents had ample time in Government to submit charges to Interpol, why didn't they? Surely it wasn't because they wanted to cut Thaksin some slack, can't see any reason other than them fearing it would be rejected.

Probably for the same reason they let him flee the country with all those suitcases. Not because of some bogus reason that our friends of Thaksin wish to manufacture, but due to the Thai establishment's desire to work out some form of compromise and accommodation with one of their own. However, since Thaksin always reneges, the Thai establishment have painfully learned that there is no peace with this man and the current demonstrations are a reflection of the realisation by many that until he and his family are removed from the political stage there will be no reconcliation worth the paper it maybe printed on.

Edited December 27, 2013 by SheungWan

[Baerboxer]

"Thaksin, who is now in self-exile" AKA on the run.

If Thaksin is so guilty, how come no country will extradite him? He's freely travelling to countries like U.S and Singapore without being arrested.

It's funny how you people keep re-iterating how corrupt Thailand is. But you only apply that corruption where it suits you.

Well yes there is corruption everywhere but in the case of extradition I think you'll find that is down to the Thai govt and Police to demand his extradition from the country he is in at the time. As they have not done this, there is no extradition, this has nothing to do with corruption anywhere other than in Thailand.

And why do you think they didn't ask for extradition when they had all the time in the world to do it while in power? Maybe because as an American Diplomat put it, the charges were "at best a misdemeanor compared to his predecessors"?

2 years imprisonment is an appropriate sentence for the crime he was convicted of. White collar thefts are treated much more seriously in the US now.

He abused a position of power and more importantly trust to steal money from the Thai people and further enrich the family.

Maybe you think that's a misdemeanor too? And who was the American diplomat?

There are more serious outstanding charges to face too, should he ever be extradited. None of his regime would think of extraditing him. Maybe others thought better he was left out in the cold, although now they probably regret it. Like any cancer, ignoring leads to bigger problems.

[firestar]

Except in this case Thaksin's opponents had ample time in Government to submit charges to Interpol, why didn't they? Surely it wasn't because they wanted to cut Thaksin some slack, can't see any reason other than them fearing it would be rejected.

Probably for the same reason they let him flee the country with all those suitcases. Not because of some bogus reason that our friends of Thaksin wish to manufacture, but due to the Thai establishment's desire to work out some form of compromise and accommodation with one of their own. However, since Thaksin always reneges, the Thai establishment have painfully learned that there is no peace with this man and the current demnstrations are a reflection of the realisation by many that until he and his family are removed from the political stage there will be no reconcliation worth the paper it maybe printed on.

Sorry I actually laughed at "compromise with one of their own". Must be the same reason they were trying to make "terrorism" charges stick (they didn't) knowing they carry the highest possible penalty.

Edited December 27, 2013 by firestar

[arthurwait]

"Thaksin, who is now in self-exile" AKA on the run.

If Thaksin is so guilty, how come no country will extradite him? He's freely travelling to countries like U.S and Singapore without being arrested.

It's funny how you people keep re-iterating how corrupt Thailand is. But you only apply that corruption where it suits you.

In order to be extradited, the Thai authorities would need to make an extradition request and seek to have him extradited from a country that has an extradition treaty with Thailand.

Seeing as how his sister and cousin illegally issued a new passport to him. for which the refuse to answer questions on; do you really see them seeking extradition?

You are not answering the question why no extradition request was submitted in the years before Yingluck?

See post above.

[MMarlow]

Because his sister and her government provided him with a diplomatic passport.

He doesn't have a diplomatic Thai passport, just a normal one.

[SheungWan]

Except in this case Thaksin's opponents had ample time in Government to submit charges to Interpol, why didn't they? Surely it wasn't because they wanted to cut Thaksin some slack, can't see any reason other than them fearing it would be rejected.

Probably for the same reason they let him flee the country with all those suitcases. Not because of some bogus reason that our friends of Thaksin wish to manufacture, but due to the Thai establishment's desire to work out some form of compromise and accommodation with one of their own. However, since Thaksin always reneges, the Thai establishment have painfully learned that there is no peace with this man and the current demnstrations are a reflection of the realisation by many that until he and his family are removed from the political stage there will be no reconcliation worth the paper it maybe printed on.

Sorry I actually laughed at "compromise with own of their own". Must be the same reason they were trying to make "terrorism" charges stick (they didn't) knowing they carry the highest possible penalty.

Some will understand better than you the dynamics of Thai ruling class politics, within which Thaksin represents no more than an internal spilt but in addition rather more in that he wishes to capture total state power. It is this which elevates him to a different and more dangerous plane. What we do know for sure is that Thaksin was caught bang to rights laundering money through immediate family members and the family chauffeur. The problem for Thaksin's cheerleaders is bouncing backwards between the Thaksin is innocent cry and the meally-mouthed he is no more guilty than others junk. The accommodation deal as it applies to the present is that de facto reconciliation was in place with the election of Yingluck as long as she didn't turn the government into a crude vehicle for Thaksin's return. Even here a portion of the establishment was prepared to roll over, but the 4am stink and the challenge to the State with the challenge to the EC, showed yet again Thaksin's inability to resist the temptation to be the Overreacher of our time and so anyagreement broke under the pressure of a mass revolt. Thaksin's apologists maybe frantically attempting to re-write the script but it always, always comes back to the same issue, not policies, not issues other than the interests of one man. It is quite embarrassing sometimes to read the bolier room justifications for Thaksin's interests but hey ho.

[dtarasin]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this put to rest the anti-government protesters claim that the Thaksin regime has infiltrated and corrupted every aspect of the government and legal system? Doesn't this show that the system, while in need of fixing, isn't completely broken beyond repair?

I think there's enough needing fixing to give it a go. A good start would be officials who refuse to forward criminal cases to the courts, minor stuff like perjury and terrorism.

Agreed, but how does dismantling democratic process achieve this? If the court system works, then the legal checks and balances are there, so any illegal actions from the governing party can and should be brought to the courts by the opposition.

Come on , you have t be joking. Perhaps the one and only sensible ruling I have heard in years and you want to declare that checks and balances are in place.

He actually did not say that, but just asking (and is a legit question imho), why opposition (as seen as the court system works) hadn't bring to the court all illegal actions by the governing party?

Thank you. That's exactly what I'm trying to ask. If the court system is not broken, why not use it to bring these guys down instead of trying to dismantle the system?

[MMarlow]

...since when is a 'fugitive of the law'.......considered....'in self-exile'.....

...and since when can such an individual file a court action.....against others......

...sounds like an ironic twist in the legal system...

....or an intentional abuse of the legal system...

Sounds more like you don't understand the law.

[hawker9000]

"Thaksin, who is now in self-exile" AKA on the run.

If Thaksin is so guilty, how come no country will extradite him? He's freely travelling to countries like U.S and Singapore without being arrested.

It's funny how you people keep re-iterating how corrupt Thailand is. But you only apply that corruption where it suits you.

It's even funnier how a few posters keep mischaracterizing how extradition works in a pathetic attempt to somehow vindicate their cult leader. Extradition doesn't just happen; it has to be REQUESTED! Duh. Thaksin even has a valid passport which of course the Yingluck government isn't about to revoke. No government (except Cambodia, over that "advisory position" he accepted with them - another high point in the Thaksin checkered past) has been ASKED to extradite him, so why the heck WOULD THEY and how the heck COULD THEY?! Seriously, give these things some thought before you post...

[MMarlow]

Also are not those in office who consort with him guilty of sedition.

Definitely not.

[hellodolly]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this put to rest the anti-government protesters claim that the Thaksin regime has infiltrated and corrupted every aspect of the government and legal system? Doesn't this show that the system, while in need of fixing, isn't completely broken beyond repair?

Well that is one way of looking at it.

Another way to look at the same situation would be PTP running scared.

They are used to the Democrats being against them but not to people being against them. They need not worry they like all the preceding governments have made sure there is not a lot of intelligent people. They will return.

It would be nice if they started an education system in Thailand that really works. If the Democrats had chose to contest the election that would be a good point for them to get people to vote for them.

[animatic]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this put to rest the anti-government protesters claim that the Thaksin regime has infiltrated and corrupted every aspect of the government and legal system? Doesn't this show that the system, while in need of fixing, isn't completely broken beyond repair?

Of course this whole street action was touched off by the

'PTP Parliamentarians saying they would Ignore The Courts Rulings.'

So seems like a pretty compromised situation to me.

[animatic]

Except in this case Thaksin's opponents had ample time in Government to submit charges to Interpol, why didn't they? Surely it wasn't because they wanted to cut Thaksin some slack, can't see any reason other than them fearing it would be rejected.

Probably for the same reason they let him flee the country with all those suitcases. Not because of some bogus reason that our friends of Thaksin wish to manufacture, but due to the Thai establishment's desire to work out some form of compromise and accommodation with one of their own. However, since Thaksin always reneges, the Thai establishment have painfully learned that there is no peace with this man and the current demnstrations are a reflection of the realisation by many that until he and his family are removed from the political stage there will be no reconcliation worth the paper it maybe printed on.

Sorry I actually laughed at "compromise with own of their own". Must be the same reason they were trying to make "terrorism" charges stick (they didn't) knowing they carry the highest possible penalty.

Some will understand better than you the dynamics of Thai ruling class politics, within which Thaksin represents no more than an internal spilt but in addition rather more in that he wishes to capture total state power. It is this which elevates him to a different and more dangerous plane. What we do know for sure is that Thaksin was caught bang to rights laundering money through immediate family members and the family chauffeur. The problem for Thaksin's cheerleaders is bouncing backwards between the Thaksin is innocent cry and the meally-mouthed he is no more guilty than others junk. The accommodation deal as it applies to the present is that de facto reconciliation was in place with the election of Yingluck as long as she didn't turn the government into a crude vehicle for Thaksin's return. Even here a portion of the establishment was prepared to roll over, but the 4am stink and the challenge to the State with the challenge to the EC, showed yet again Thaksin's inability to resist the temptation to be the Overreacher of our time and so anyagreement broke under the pressure of a mass revolt. Thaksin's apologists maybe frantically attempting to re-write the script but it always, always comes back to the same issue, not policies, not issues other than the interests of one man. It is quite embarrassing sometimes to read the bolier room justifications for Thaksin's interests but hey ho.

Well said.

Ignoring the courts ruling, after sliding the Amnesty deal through by several dodgy means and times,

was that proverbial camels back broken by one final straw.

[fish fingers]

A fugitive from the law who jumped bail and later claimed his sentence was "politically motivated" should not have the right to file any law suits at all with the very justice system he so clearly detested in the first place. "Damaged reputation"? Oh dear, he lost his reputation the very moment he decided to deceive the court, jump bail and even declined to appeal the original verdict.

This is the same country where u can kill a policeman in your ferrari whilst high on coke doing 150mph, skip court and bail and claim illness and the charges are dropped.

[JRSoul]

And why do you think they didn't ask for extradition when they had all the time in the world to do it while in power? Maybe because as an American Diplomat put it, the charges were "at best a misdemeanor compared to his predecessors"?

If you don't like that charge, there a quite a few others to chose from.

[JRSoul]

Also are not those in office who consort with him guilty of sedition.

Definitely not.

But there are plenty of other charges available. If allowing him access to cabinet meetings led him to making one profitable business decision, it would conspiracy to allow insider trading IMHO.

[Misterwhisper]

Thaksin is in his mid sixties now, no one will care about him in a few yrs, he will just be a sad old man.

He's been a sad old man for as long as I can remember, i.e. since he first rose to prominence in 1994 and "guaranteed" that all of Bangkok's traffic problems would be solved within 3 months. He failed miserably, and in fact he failed miserably in pretty much all of his "business endeavors" until he hooked up with like-minded (corrupt) people. Google Chalerm and Thaksin and see what comes up. Your mind will boggle. That pair apparently have had a long and plentiful relationship based on corruption and greed.

[whybother]

"Thaksin, who is now in self-exile" AKA on the run.

If Thaksin is so guilty, how come no country will extradite him? He's freely travelling to countries like U.S and Singapore without being arrested.

It's funny how you people keep re-iterating how corrupt Thailand is. But you only apply that corruption where it suits you.

In order to be extradited, the Thai authorities would need to make an extradition request and seek to have him extradited from a country that has an extradition treaty with Thailand.

Seeing as how his sister and cousin illegally issued a new passport to him. for which the refuse to answer questions on; do you really see them seeking extradition?

You are not answering the question why no extradition request was submitted in the years before Yingluck?

The Abhisit government probably had a number of reasons why they didn't try and get him back. Not actually wanting him here was probably highest on the list. Can you imagine the chaos if he came back?

Whatever the reason, it doesn't change the fact that he was found guilty in a court of law, his lawyers were found guilty of trying to bribe the judges, he has 11 other outstanding charges of corruption against him, and that he skipped bail to avoid jail.

Sent from my phone ...

[whybother]

Because his sister and her government provided him with a diplomatic passport.

He doesn't have a diplomatic Thai passport, just a normal one.

I wonder how many fugitives from justice get a new passport hand delivered to them by a government MP.

Sent from my phone ...

[whybother]

Maybe no one actually wants him back here. He is quite free to return on his own accord. If his is so innocent, why doesn't he come back and fight his charges?

People keep re-iterating how corrupt Thailand is ... umm ... because it is corrupt. Are you suggesting it isn't?

Because he has already been sentenced. There is nothing to fight.

No I am not suggesting it isn't. I am suggesting that corruption exists in all countries. That most people who point their fingers to Thailand without seeing the corruption at home are hypocrites.

He has about 11 outstanding corruption charges to fight, and of course, a jail term to serve.

So, because there is some corruption in other countries, we shouldn't complain about the rampant corruption here????

You must fit in the "it's alright as long as I benefit" camp.

[Ricardo]

Never claimed I was right. But no one here has so far been able to answer me why no extradition was sought to bring him to Justice here in Thailand.

Personally I think you are all a bunch of hypocritical fascists who are using the corruption charges as an excuse to get rid of this man who was elected by a majority of the Thai people.

Now I will leave you all at peace to spew your hatred against Thaksin and the Thai democratic system. Have fun.

"Never claimed i was right."

So you were deliberately trolling, or what ?

"a bunch of hypocritical fascists" & "spew your hatred"

As a Newbie, you may not be aware, you signed-up to not flame fellow posters ? We may not all agree with one another, but most longer-lived posters find that they can get along, without the insults.

"this man who was elected by a majority of the Thai people"

Which was in 2001 & 2005, a long time ago, since when his nominees/family-members/parties have had less support than in the early days. Which isn't to say that he, and by extension his family, aren't fondly-remembered by many voters. His achievement, in sticking together political-factions to form TRT & in espousing populist policies, was significant.

"why no extradition was sought"

Well, apart from the fact that his nominee-governments & family-member PMs have been in-power for half the time since he fled justice in 2008, the real answer is probably that some sort of back-room deal was in-place, I would certainly find it credible that the aim was to keep him away and reduce the further trouble he stirred-up, rather than to apply the strict letter-of-the-law. he is, as you say, still very popular in certain parts of Thailand & he's also a very rich man, which does seem to count for a lot here.

[arthurwait]

A fugitive from the law who jumped bail and later claimed his sentence was "politically motivated" should not have the right to file any law suits at all with the very justice system he so clearly detested in the first place. "Damaged reputation"? Oh dear, he lost his reputation the very moment he decided to deceive the court, jump bail and even declined to appeal the original verdict.

This is the same country where u can kill a policeman in your ferrari whilst high on coke doing 150mph, skip court and bail and claim illness and the charges are dropped.

The evidence didn't stand up in court.

[HannahD]

In response to another poster's question, if Thaksin had sway over the courts he would have been here long ago. The courts - and the laws they enforce - are the one thing that is keeping Thaksin from here - hence the Yingluck administration's failed attempt to have his convictions nullified in the massive blunder of the amnesty bill.

Agreed, but how does dismantling democratic process achieve this? If the court system works, then the legal checks and balances are there, so any illegal actions from the governing party can and should be brought to the courts by the opposition.

What is needed is not reform but simply the enforcement of existing laws.

[Costas2008]

moe666, on 27 Dec 2013 - 21:19, said:

diceq, on 27 Dec 2013 - 16:20, said:

Costas2008, on 27 Dec 2013 - 16:17, said:

Because his sister and her government provided him with a diplomatic passport.

Again, even if this is true, it happened after the military dictatorship. It does not answer the question why he was never extradited during the military dictatorship.

Are you that clueless he wasn't found guilty until a couple of years after the coup and the government at the time was run by his brother-in-law. Do your research before posting nonsense.

Posted 2011-12-16 16:57:00

Thaksin's Passport Reinstated Since Oct 26

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thani Thongpakdi affirms the Thai passport of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was reinstated since October 26 as he was no longer on the ministry's blacklist.

He said Thaksin had applied for a Thai passport at the Royal Thai Embassy in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on October 25. Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul approved the issuance of the passport and a passport was issued to Thaksin on October 26.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-16