Thai govt revokes Thaksin's passports, citing 'damaging' interview

[webfact]

Thai Govt Revokes Thaksin's Passports, Citing 'Damaging' Interview
By Khaosod English


Screenshot of Chosun Media's interview with former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

BANGKOK — Thailand's military government has revoked two passports held by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra due to "damaging" remarks he made in an interview with a South Korean media agency last week.

According to a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, the interview contained "some elements that may damage the national security, reputation, and dignity of Thailand."

Although Thaksin was ousted in a military coup and has been living in exile since 2008 to avoid a corruption conviction, he has continued to command a powerful political dynasty from abroad. He is the de facto leader of the Redshirt movement and Pheu Thai Party, which led the government toppled by the current junta in May 2014.

Thaksin has seldom commented on political affairs in public over the past year, but the former PM made waves last week after hetold a South Korean news channel that the 2014 coup makers were helped by Thailand's traditional elites.

Due to Thailand’s strict lese majeste law, which criminalizes insulting the monarchy, Khaosod English is unable to elaborate on the comments he made in the interview.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1432712439


-- Khaosod English 2015-05-27

[webfact]

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Ministry announced at noon today that it has revoked two passports of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

It reasoned that his recent press interview was detrimental to national security, and tarnished the country’s reputation.

The revocation was proposed by the national security officials.

Revoked passports are passport book No U957441, and Z530117.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/111587


-- Thai PBS 2015-05-27

[JOC]

That was about bloody time!!

[JOC]

>>Due to Thailand’s strict lese majeste law, which criminalizes insulting the monarchy, Khaosod English is unable to elaborate on the comments he made in the interview.<< Quote

What a stupid and sad old man Mr T is!!

Even a farang arrived yesterday would know better than to insult the institution.................

[whatawonderfulday]

Well guess Thaksin S won't be to concerned about losing his Thai passport. I suspect his PR team will now have a field day publicizing to the world the reasoning cited by the General for this action. Illustrates even further to the free world what this current General thinks about free speech, irrespective of what various people think about Thaksin.

Edited May 27, 2015 by whatawonderfulday

[webfact]

U957441 AND Z530117
Thaksin's passports revoked
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Ministry has revoked former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's two passports after reaching the conclusions that his recent interview has affected the security and the country's reputation.

An investigation is underway and criminal charges could be pressed against the self-exiled Thaksin.

The revocation of U957441 and Z530117 passports became effective on Tuesday and was announced on the Foreign Ministry's website on Wednesday.

The decision follows an alert from security authorities regarding Thaksin's interview, part of which, they believed, would have an impact on the security, reputation and integrity of the Kingdom.

The ministry agreed that the interview violated the ministry's regulations regarding the holding of a passport.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thaksins-passports-revoked-30261046.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-27

[JOC]

>>Thaksin has seldom commented on political affairs in public over the past year, but the former PM made waves last week after he told a South Korean news channel that the 2014 coup makers were helped by Thailand's traditional elites.<< Quote

True, but hardly breaking news??

The good news:

With a 112 hanging over his head, Mr T will never return to Thailand!!

[ezzra]

Will it worry or faze him? will it force him to make some kind of a move? will he cry foul

to the world and proclaim that he's still the PM and that he have been unseated in illegal

coup ? and why now the question should be asked? what is in play?

[phutoie2]

>>Due to Thailand’s strict lese majeste law, which criminalizes insulting the monarchy, Khaosod English is unable to elaborate on the comments he made in the interview.<< Quote

What a stupid and sad old man Mr T is!!

Even a farang arrived yesterday would know better than to insult the institution.................

Thaksin is a wily old fox and knew that interview would get right up Prayuts nostrils. Seems to have worked, Thaksin certainly won't be losing any sleep on what farangs write on TVF. Best to go back to your bar stool.

[JOC]

Well guess Thaksin S won't be to concerned about losing his Thai passport. I suspect his PR team will now have a field day publicizing to the world the reasoning cited by the General for this action. Illustrates even further to the free world what this current General thinks about free speech, irrespective of what various people think about Thaksin.

This is not a question about free speech in general, but about the lese majesty law, which has been in place even under previous elected governments, who all have used it to promote their own agenda!!

[pinkpanther99]

I thought he had his passport taken off him years ago and travelled around on a Serbian passport or something like that?

[webfact]

Thailand revokes ex-PM Thaksin's passports on 'security' concerns
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's foreign ministry Wednesday said it had cancelled fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's passports because he was deemed to have "endangered national security" in a recent interview.

The billionaire telecoms tycoon-turned-prime minister, who was toppled by a coup in 2006, sits at the heart of Thailand's bitter political divide and now lives in self-exile to avoid jail on a corruption charge.

The foreign ministry said it was asked to take action against Thaksin after police deemed that "part of his interview endangered national security or national reputation".

It was not immediately clear which interview was being referred to or why it was deemed to breach security rules, but last week Thaksin made rare public comments in an overseas interview broadcast on CNN and at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul.

In its statement the foreign ministry said two passports belonging to Thaksin had been cancelled with effect from May 26.

Since going into self-imposed exile, he has travelled frequently and has been based in Dubai.

"The Foreign Ministry decided that reasons cited (by security agencies and police) were enough to cancel his passport under the ministry's regulations," the statement said.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the impact the move would have on Thaksin's ability to travel but he is also believed to hold passports from other countries.

Last May Thailand's generals ousted the government of Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck in a coup shortly after she was removed as premier by a controversial court ruling.

Parties led by or aligned to the Shinawatras have won every election since 2001, and they are loved in the nation's rural north for their populist policies.

But opponents comprising large swathes of the military, judiciary and royalist elite in Bangkok and the southern portion of the country accuse them of cronyism, corruption and financially ruinous politics.

In a CNN interview broadcast last week as Thailand marked a year since the military takeover Thaksin said he would wait for the right moment to re-enter Thai politics.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-05-27

[JOC]

>>Due to Thailand’s strict lese majeste law, which criminalizes insulting the monarchy, Khaosod English is unable to elaborate on the comments he made in the interview.<< Quote

What a stupid and sad old man Mr T is!!

Even a farang arrived yesterday would know better than to insult the institution.................

Thaksin is a wily old fox and knew that interview would get right up Prayuts nostrils. Seems to have worked, Thaksin certainly won't be losing any sleep on what farangs write on TVF. Best to go back to your bar stool.

No Mr T is an old fool!!

By making himself a 112-suspect, he has closed all doors for a possible return.

Even if an amnesty ever takes place, lese majesty suspects are always excluded!!

PS. I don't drink...........

[DavisH]

So which passports were cancelled? How could have a regular passport, official passport, and a diplomatic passport. How could well have all of these + those of other nationalities. I doubt it will be a hindrance.

[worgeordie]

2 Thai passports,1 diplomatic i think, and a fugitive ,

could only happen in Thailand

regards Worgeordie

[Wolfe]

As if he gives a toss

[Scott]

One post with unsubstantiated, conspiracy content has been removed.

[Braddockrd]

Weren't these revoked when he fled???

[sfokevin]

I thought he had his passport taken off him years ago and travelled around on a Serbian passport or something like that?

They were all revoked in 2009... But his sister gave them back when she became PM...

[kannot]

>>Due to Thailand’s strict lese majeste law, which criminalizes insulting the monarchy, Khaosod English is unable to elaborate on the comments he made in the interview.<< Quote

What a stupid and sad old man Mr T is!!

Even a farang arrived yesterday would know better than to insult the institution.................

but not as stupid and sad as those laws

[tonbridgebrit]

To Plutojames88, I think you've said your stuff to make us giggle a bit, a send up of the conspiracy theorists ??

I'm now going to say, that I reckon that Thaksin IS actually (secretly) backed by the USA. Remember, America has constantly backed whatever leaders in whatever areas, America has constantly 'meddled' in other countries' situations. Let's put it this way, if America (the West) was to not support Thaksin, well, Thaksin really would be a person would no power or influence, he really would be irrelevant.

[mango66]

Well guess Thaksin S won't be to concerned about losing his Thai passport. I suspect his PR team will now have a field day publicizing to the world the reasoning cited by the General for this action. Illustrates even further to the free world what this current General thinks about free speech, irrespective of what various people think about Thaksin.

if he would travell back to thailand, he would need a passport,

but now he would have to use his Montenogro or Columbia passport -

for this passports he will need a Visa !!

Which Ambassy will give him a Visa ??

or can the aircontroll allow his plain to land if he have not the correct passport - visa ??

[Plutojames88]

The western media in Particular America are giving MR T a good deal of support for his valued opinions.

[mango66]

by law it should have been done before 8 years,

but his lovely sister and GVt didn't do his duty,

Now finally it's done,

and he have another crime on him which my get him another 10 years Bangkok Hilton !

Well done !! PM

[dru2]

So which passports were cancelled? How could have a regular passport, official passport, and a diplomatic passport. How could well have all of these + those of other nationalities. I doubt it will be a hindrance.

Never mind hindrance - it's a major loss of face!

[uty6543]

I wish they had just issued a warrant for the crimes he committed when he was in power. War on drugs. The rest of the world does not like Thailand's lese majeste laws and will not help Thailand to bring him back.

[mango66]

The western media in Particular America are giving MR T a good deal of support for his valued opinions.

so you are also a criminal that you call his opinion valued ??

[halloween]

Fugitive criminals regularly have their passports replaced, when their sister is PM and cousin is FM.

Normally such an act would be the subject of a criminal inquiry, but not when they are in the criminals' pocket.

Let's hear it for Democracy in Thailand!

[Basil B]

Does he not have one (or two) from a banana republic???

By the way this does not make him stateless, it just means that the privileges that his passport bestow upon him will not be honoured, and many countries will be notified of that, I am sure if he wishes to return to Thailand he will be sent Emergency Travel Documents.

[Tatsujin]

Interesting ... I'm just surprised they didn't revoke them much sooner (even though I believe all Thai PM's past or present automatically get Diplomatic passports for life) ... and his "return" to Thai Politics is going to take even longer now that he's got an LM charge looming ...