Order to expel Sehgal awaits Chalerm's nod

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS
Order to expel Sehgal awaits Chalerm's nod
The Nation

Satish Sehgal

BANGKOK: -- Immigration Commission has voted to cancel the residency permit for an Indian businessman who addressed an anti-government rally, a source at the commission has revealed.

However, Satish Sehgal has yet to be informed of a decision by the commission to deport him for his involvement with protests led by the People Democratic Reform Committee.

A source close to Satish said yesterday the businessman had not had any formal notice from the panel about the matter. The panel had earlier resolved that he had not committed any wrongdoing that would warrant deportation, the source noted.

The commission, which is under the Interior Ministry, decided by a majority vote to revoke Satish's residency permit following a long debate among the nine panel members, a source in the commission said yesterday.

In a secret ballot, five panel members voted for revocation, while two voted against and two others abstained from voting, according to the source, who added that the commission met on Monday to discuss the matter.

By law the prime minister has the authority to endorse such a decision but the PM has delegated that power to Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is now in charge of the government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order, according to the source.

The order to revoke Satish's residency permit was submitted to Chalerm on Thursday and he was expected to sign to endorse it next week, the source said. However, Satish had the right to seek a court injunction to oppose the move.

Satish, 70, is a former president of the Thai-Indian Business Association, and has lived in Thailand for over five decades. He is a PDRC leader but has rarely appeared on stage at rally sites following a threat to deport him.

Satish's legal adviser, who asked not to be named, said Satish would bring the case to court and appeal to HM the King over this matter. He would also sue the officials involved.

If Satish's residency permit is revoked, the Immigration Bureau will ask for him to be detained for deportation from Thailand.


-- The Nation 2014-02-22

[simon43]

If he has lived in Thailand for over 5 decades, why is he not a Thai citizen now? Surely he meets all the criteria and could have applied for citizenship a long time ago.

IMHO, it seems pretty stupid to become politically involved when you are merely a guest in this country. That goes for all political persuasions.

What visa does he have? ED?

He should have kept his political views to himself - he must have known that voicing them so strongly would only end in tears

Simon

Edit: I note that the original article says he has a residency permit ==> PR

Edited February 21, 2014 by simon43

[sjjmmi]

Enjoy our flight home Take care now and all the best to you

[Bluespunk]

Enjoy our flight home Take care now and all the best to you

Happy to see that the vindictive persecution and misery of a man who exercised his right to freedom of speech and spoke out for the country he considers his own is giving you such pleasure.

Find a mirror.

[chooka]

A non citizen can sue a foreign government if they get deported for breaking the law???

If he really thought he was a Thai and loved the place so much he would have applied for citizenship

[Somtamnication]

His next trip should be to The Hague. He has a valid case.

[britmaveric]

Exactly if he considered himself Thai and his home for so long - he quite easily could of gotten thai citizenship. Then he could act like a clown like the rest of them without repercussions.

The Hague???

Edited February 21, 2014 by britmaveric

[NongKhaiKid]

The PM delegated the job to a man who would never pass a sobriety test at anytime, does she ever do anything ?

She will discover that delegating, while appropriate at times, does not absolve her from responsibility as it is one of the rules of command ' you can delegate your authority but not responsibility '.

Of course TIT where taking responsibility is a dirty word.

[Soutpeel]

Enjoy our flight home Take care now and all the best to you

Conclusive proof that Thailand's visa rules are too lax and should include an IQ test prior to be given a visa...

[ikurauni]

This is a harsh decision to a man who contributed to the Thai economy for the long time and has a family here in Thailand.

Basically they are telling non-Thai people not to get involved with any of the anti-government activities.

[moonao]

This guy is an absolute idiot with no common sense. The quicker he gets out the better

dont let the door hit you on the way out, sehgal

[chooka]

This is a harsh decision to a man who contributed to the Thai economy for the long time and has a family here in Thailand.

Basically they are telling non-Thai people not to get involved with any of the anti-government activities.

Yes foreigners were warned in the beginning not to get involved.

[Jack Mountain]

The story changes all the time, 1st he came here in Thailand when he was 5 years old and stayed 40 years (that makes him 45) and now he's 70 and stayed 50 years. Does he has a time machine?

[Thai at Heart]

This resurfaces.

I knew Chalerm would get him eventually. HW would never this bloke make him lose face. All pathetic

[Thai at Heart]

This is a harsh decision to a man who contributed to the Thai economy for the long time and has a family here in Thailand.

Basically they are telling non-Thai people not to get involved with any of the anti-government activities.

There are thousands of people more deserving of your admiration.

[Robby nz]

So they need trouble with India too do they.

Another rod for their own back.

Stupidity knows no bounds.

[sjjmmi]

Enjoy our flight home Take care now and all the best to you

Happy to see that the vindictive persecution and misery of a man who exercised his right to freedom of speech and spoke out for the country he considers his own is giving you such pleasure.

Find a mirror.

For give me as I live in Singapore and had done for 32 years but travel to Thailand every week, so I must have missed something here. I can be kicked out of Singapore also as a PR.

[Somtamnication]

This is a harsh decision to a man who contributed to the Thai economy for the long time and has a family here in Thailand.

Basically they are telling non-Thai people not to get involved with any of the anti-government activities.

There are thousands of people more deserving of your admiration.

Like who? Chalerm?

[Bluespunk]

Enjoy our flight home Take care now and all the best to you

Happy to see that the vindictive persecution and misery of a man who exercised his right to freedom of speech and spoke out for the country he considers his own is giving you such pleasure.

Find a mirror.

For give me as I live in Singapore and had done for 32 years but travel to Thailand every week, so I must have missed something here. I can be kicked out of Singapore also as a PR.

There is no need to take pleasure in his misfortune.

I'm not getting into the rights and wrongs of expelling a man who has lived here for most of his life. Did that last time.

[saakura]

This is a harsh decision to a man who contributed to the Thai economy for the long time and has a family here in Thailand.

Basically they are telling non-Thai people not to get involved with any of the anti-government activities.

Yes foreigners were warned in the beginning not to get involved.

Yes, and he was specifically named and warned. But in the euphoria, he got carried away and was on the stage in Silom very regularly making taunting speeches to great applause. The last straw was when he led a mob to the Aeronautical Radio threatening to close down airline communications.

[ShannonT]

His next trip should be to The Hague. He has a valid case.

International Criminal Court?

[Terry McEjut]

the Thai-Indian Business Association

It's actually India-Thai Business Association (ITBA) and has no recognition from the Indian or Thai governments. The official Thai-Indian business grouping is the India Thai Chamber of Commerce.

[simon43]

..a man who exercised his right to freedom of speech and spoke out for the country he considers his own

He may well consider this country to be his own, but that belief is not reciprocated because he is not a citizen of Thailand. In any case, I don't recall him speaking 'for' the country - he was speaking for a mob who are trying to unseat a democratically-elected government, (no matter how inept they are).

Basically they are telling non-Thai people not to get involved with any of the anti-government activities.

Absolutely! That applies to all political persuasions. If you are not a ThaI citizen, keep your nose out of politics.

[rogerdee123]

If he has lived in Thailand for over 5 decades, why is he not a Thai citizen now? Surely he meets all the criteria and could have applied for citizenship a long time ago.

IMHO, it seems pretty stupid to become politically involved when you are merely a guest in this country. That goes for all political persuasions.

What visa does he have? ED?

He should have kept his political views to himself - he must have known that voicing them so strongly would only end in tears

Simon

Edit: I note that the original article says he has a residency permit ==> PR

You obviously know nothing about Thai citizenship requirements ... If he has permanent residency, that's about as far as he can go.

There are other indigenous "minority" groups in Thailand who have lived here for generations ... some longer that the Thai-Chinese clans who run the country ... who are denied "citizenship".

[TVGerry]

I wouldn't worry about it. The Shinawatra government may be vindinctive but the courts are fair. There's no way they will endorse something like this. He has every right to exercise his right to protest, as long as he did't break the law. I'm pretty sure the courts will tell Chalerm to F off again.

[chooka]

So they need trouble with India too do they.

Another rod for their own back.

Stupidity knows no bounds.

I hardly think India would care about this guy. He left the country 50+ yrs ago and he considers himself Thai and not indian. I think India will be saying who is this Sehgal numskull. I doubt that any country in the world would care to much if another country deported one their citizens home they aren't going to make an international issue about one guy getting deported home.

[Soutpeel]

I can be kicked out of Singapore also as a PR.

Er no you cant be kicked out of Singapore as a PR, if they wanted to kick you out of Singapore they would have to get your PR status withdrawn in a court of law, once the court orders your PR withdrawn, then immigration can start taking steps to get you kicked out.

therefore your statement is incorrect.

[simon43]

You obviously know nothing about Thai citizenship requirements ... If he has permanent residency, that's about as far as he can go.

Utter rubbish! A number of foreigners are given Thai citizenship every year. On this board I can think of members such as Dbren and NewlyMintedThai. I will apply in a couple of years when I meet the visa-extension requirements for my application.

It is you who knows nothing - check the facts about citizenship applictions/requirements

Edit: AFAIK, Sehgal is not a hilltribe ethnic minority - he is an Indian citizen and some of his compatriates apply for and are awarded Thai citizenship each year.

Simon

Edited February 22, 2014 by simon43

[Somtamnication]

His next trip should be to The Hague. He has a valid case.

International Criminal Court?

I meant the human rights court, wherever it is. Memory fails me.

[Travel Dude]

I wonder if our comments here on Thai Visa are also seen as "getting involved".

Moderator, can you tell us what are the risks in giving our critical views on Thai visa?