No Report On Thaksin's Attempt To Sneak In To Chiang Mai

[Chang_paarp]

He won't turn up in the near future. If he did, some sort of house arrest arrangement would ensue.

Maybe the bomb will be assembled this time.

[sriracha john]

Apparently even the Chinese didn't know he was coming to China

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in China on a private visit, but the Chinese government was never informed of it, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

Thaksin was toppled in a bloodless coup in September. It was reported that he arrived in China on Tuesday and tried to meet with Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont at the China-ASEAN summit held this week.

Liu said at a regular press conference that the Chinese government was never informed by the Thai government nor Thaksin that he was coming to China.

Source: Xinhua

[maxx]

why would the chinese government care if thaksin is in the coutry or not, Thaksin is now just a commoner like you and me, there's no reason to give him special treatment, but in the other hand the Thai embassy in china should inform the Thai government that taksin was in china instead of being quiet, i say replace the top guy and the staff at the china embassy, i think they are up to no good.

[Tony Clifton]

If Thaksin was in China to "meet friends", it could be that his entry was arranged by these same Chinese friends (handed out a generous donation) without the Thai Embassy's help. Of course , the real reason was to meet the Thai PM unannounced.

He's sneaky, has money, will never change.

Edited November 4, 2006 by Tony Clifton

[Plus]

Will he be deported now? He's the guy they have been talking to for five years, they can't simply ignore him, they can't give him any official treatment either. Exiled leaders usually inform their hosts about their movements.

[Lusifer]

What you think would be his punishement of ILLEGEAL ENTRY TO KINGDOM??? iF HE COMES...OR FIND OUT LATELY THAT HE IS ALREADY IN THE COUNTRY..

If Thaksin was in China to "meet friends", it could be that his entry was arranged by these same Chinese friends (handed out a generous donation) without the Thai Embassy's help. Of course , the real reason was to meet the Thai PM unannounced.

He's sneaky, has money, will never change.

[Tony Clifton]

Will he be deported now? He's the guy they have been talking to for five years, they can't simply ignore him, they can't give him any official treatment either. Exiled leaders usually inform their hosts about their movements.

That's the same country where buying an illegally obtained kidney or liver is just as easy as finding chopsticks. Nothing will happen to him, probably has already left, lighter from the bundles of cash he's handed to officials who will simply deny their involvement.

What you think would be his punishement of ILLEGEAL ENTRY TO KINGDOM??? iF HE COMES...OR FIND OUT LATELY THAT HE IS ALREADY IN THE COUNTRY..

If Thaksin was in China to "meet friends", it could be that his entry was arranged by these same Chinese friends (handed out a generous donation) without the Thai Embassy's help. Of course , the real reason was to meet the Thai PM unannounced.

He's sneaky, has money, will never change.

If he enters Thailand unannounced, he is defying and lying again according to what he said last week, having no intentions of returning soon. Therefore, he's a much more dangerous man than we thought. He 'd deserve whatever comes his way.

Edited November 4, 2006 by Tony Clifton

[Hermano Lobo]

I thought this article in today's The Nation very good ?

Surayud's halo could push Thaksin into obscurity

General Surayud Chulanont may have appeared like a bull in a china shop when he took up the premiership. He looked uneasy, unaccustomed to the traditional Thai style of big-money and gutter politics.

Many people were also worried that he would not be able to live up to the task and meet public expectations.

Public opinion of him has changed remarkably since as people have watched his every delicate move, like a soldier treading through minefields. Not only has he survived almost two months, there have also been some impeccable if not sterling performances.

His heartfelt apology to the Muslim people in the South for serious errors in policy, strategic direction and actions in dealing with the sensitive three southernmost provinces moved a lot of people to tears. It was touching indeed.

Nobody questioned Surayud's sincerity. Those were not the crocodile tears seen so often during his predecessor's years. With his candour, Surayud managed to persuade his Muslim audience to lower their guard, with optimism that even if a solution could not be achieved soon, at least the violence-prone areas would not get worse.

Surayud is cool, with no love for bandying words about. His always reserved bearing is in marked contrast to Thaksin Shinawatra, who likes to be the darling of all while his words and misdemeanours foment enmity and conflict.

Surayud is no politician but that does not mean that his stature and quality are inferior to anyone's. His track record on honesty and that of Thaksin would run parallel from beginning to end, with no chance of ever meeting.

It is possible that if Surayud can survive a few more months with tangible successes in the task of national rebuilding given to him by the military junta, then Thaksin can really feel worried that he will be forgotten soon enough.

Surayud has dealt with pressing and sensitive issues with tact, firmness and a sensitive approach to convey the right message, which only works in his favour. The way he cut short his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong's attempt to discuss the messy Temasek Holdings deal in Thailand won a lot of admiration at home.

Lee Junior must have realised that the Asean sense of solidarity certainly does not cover business transactions by family members, not even the wife of a national leader. He might have regretted his careless remarks about the coup, which were unwarranted, intrusive and nosy.

Lee should know that it's not only his wife in trouble now but also the wife of Thailand's former prime minister, now disgraced by corruption scandals and a wide range of misdeeds while in office. His vast wealth does not make the man happy during his forced exile abroad.

It will take some time to see whether Lee needs some sort of ego massage to ease the bruising and smarting. At least he knows now that he should be very cautious the next time he opens his mouth to talk with his Thai counterpart on matters not related to affairs of state.

Surayud's fast move to comfort the bereaved wife of a taxi driver who hanged himself in protest against the coup was truly a nip in the bud. A frenzied rally could have taken shape and grown quickly to cause a serious political headache for the premier and the junta.

The big contrast between him and Thaksin is that while he is modest, polite, sincere and shows good intentions, his predecessor was abrasive, arrogant, uncivil, boastful and pursued wealth with disregard for the law.

The real degree of valour has yet to be measured. Who is going to maintain composure in the line of enemy fire, or at the first sign of serious trouble? Though this may never happen, we seem to know the answer well anyway.

Watching the trend of Surayud's performance from his place of exile, Thaksin should feel increasingly worried. His hope of holding on grass-roots support for a political comeback now appears overly optimistic. As long as he is kept out of the country and Surayud holds the centre stage himself, Thaksin can be forgotten soon enough.

Big money and the loyalty of grass-roots voters will not help if Thaksin gets tied up by criminal charges, either alone or with wife and relatives. The signs are clear that he will have a lot of legal troubles to deal with, in addition to the strong possibility that the Shin Corp deal with Temasek may never be consummated and both sides will gain nothing.

It appears that Surayud plays politics for keeps, even if it is for a short period. There is a possibility that he might be approached to take the leadership of a fairly savoury political party, but his previous statement about not aspiring to political adventure could keep him out if he is truly a man of his word.

As of now, Surayud holds all the advantage. He is chalking up more scores with increasing public satisfaction while the junta has to take most of the blame for slow action. Thaksin must be feeling desperate, frustrated at not being able to do anything much. In the months to come, there will be a distinct comparison between the two men for the public, including Thaksin's admirers, to judge.

Surely as the halo around Surayud grows, Thaksin's dirt will be dug up to serve as an impregnable barrier to his bid to regain power. With his messy legal stigma and disgrace, fears that Thaksin will return and reclaim the premiership may be highly exaggerated.

Sopon Onkgara

Destroy Thaksin's tentacles of power

Police abuses committed by officers with the ex-PM's tacit approval must not go unpunished

Much has been said about the need to cut off former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's tentacles of power; those that had allowed him to subvert democracy, intimidate critics and pursue his selfish gain at the expense of the public interest. Yet so little has been done so far by the interim Surayud government and the Council for National Security (CNS) which came to power after the September 19 coup with a promise to, among other things, rid the country's politics of corruption.

This may soon change. Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, chairman of the CNS and one of the coup-makers, hinted recently of the existence of potentially damning evidence that could link a close associate of Thaksin to the abduction by police officers of Muslim lawyer and human rights advocate Somchai Neelapaijit.

Somchai disappeared without trace after being abducted on March 12, 2004. He is presumed dead.

Any emerging new evidence that points to the identity of a mastermind in Somchai's abduction who was close to Thaksin could lead to the re-opening of an investigation into the case and a possible re-trial. It would also afford the Surayud government an opportunity to widen the scope of the investigation to cover all other atrocities and abuses by the police under Thaksin's watch - so that corrupt and criminal elements can be purged from the Royal Thai Police.

In January the Criminal Court found one middle-ranking police officer guilty of abduction and sentenced him to a three-year term of imprisonment for unlawful detention. Four other policemen, who were co-defendants in the case, were acquitted because of a lack of evidence. Somchai's disappearance put Thailand's human rights record in a very negative light in the eyes of the Thai public and the international community. The UN Human Rights Committee, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and several foreign governments had expressed concern about police brutality during the Thaksin regime.

The national police and the Thaksin government were the subject of scandal after Somchai's client told a court that one of the five accused officers had tortured him to extract a confession. The police wanted him to admit he took part in a raid on an Army camp in Narathiwat on January 4, 2004, in which more than 300 weapons were stolen.

Thaksin, a former police lieutenant colonel, was known to have used the police and other law enforcement officials to commit crimes, including blatant human rights violations linked to the controversial "war on drugs" in which at least 2,000 suspected drug traffickers were killed. Investigations into all of these atrocities, which had been suppressed by Thaksin, must be re-opened and the wrongdoers punished. Moreover, many police officers had also been manipulated by the former prime minister to skew the criminal justice process by tampering with evidence, altering investigative findings or watering down cases of corruption involving Thaksin and his cronies to help them escape conviction and punishment for their crimes.

During Thaksin's five and a half years in power, corruption and abuse of authority by officers in the national police force had become even more widespread than it already was. It is time now for the Surayud government to root out corrupt and criminal officers so that a real effort can be made to rebuild the police force. It must be expected to perform its duty honestly, as the enforcer of law, with a high degree of professionalism and public accountability.

It is going to take time to weed out the long-standing corruption in the police force that has been tolerated and even condoned by successive governments and an apathetic Thai public. Its culture, based on the patronage system, must be done away with and, at the same time, a stricter code of conduct must be imposed. Officers found guilty of corruption must be consistently punished.

If done right, the Surayud government will be able to reform the national police force as well as demolish, in one fell swoop, Thaksin's remaining power of patronage, which remains strong among the police rank and file. Any hope of rebuilding a viable and resilient democracy in this country depends to a large extent on this interim government's success in making the police force serve the public and ridding it of manipulation by corrupt politicians.

The Nation 2nd November

Edited November 4, 2006 by Hermano Lobo

[sriracha john]

The big contrast between him and Thaksin is that while he is modest, polite, sincere and shows good intentions, his predecessor was abrasive, arrogant, uncivil, boastful and pursued wealth with disregard for the law.

A nice summation worth repeating.

[sriracha john]

As to his return to Thailand:

According to a TRT party source, Thaksin had spoken with Thai Rak Thai officials and decided to return to Thailand in early December, when he would announce the dissolution of the party at the end of the month.

- The Nation

-------------------------------------------------------

Interesting he would dissolve the party he's no longer a member of

but then... Thaksin has often defied logic.

anyway... apparently he'll back in time for the Christmas holiday shopping times. Pojaman will be pleased.

[veteran]

Hope its not true

[Plus]

Interesting he would dissolve the party he's no longer a member of

Exactly!!!

He is still TRT member though, he just resigned as a leader.

Still, shouldn't the party current leader and its executive board be consulted, or at least informed of a party dissolution?

Why don't they ask Chaturon? Does he know ANYTHING?

Or ask Sita Devari who his boss is at the moment.

They are all monkeys.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

In the news that just won't go away:

Ousted leader Thaksin has no plan to sneak back into Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand: If and when ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returns to Thailand, he won't sneak back across the border but he will fly into the country with dignity, his lawyer said Saturday.

Thaksin has been living in London, where he owns an apartment, since being removed by a military coup in September. While on a trip to China last month, there were rumors that Thaksin might try to slip back into Thailand by land.

"If he comes back, he won't illegally cross the border," lawyer Noppadol Patama told reporters. "He will come back with dignity at Suvarnabhumi airport."

Thailand's flashy new Suvarnabhumi airport opened in September, about a week after the Sept. 19 coup. The airport was one of Thaksin's pet projects, but he has yet to see it in operation.

The leader of the coup, Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, was recently quoted as saying that Thaksin will not be allowed to return until martial law is lifted. There has been no clear indication of when the emergency powers imposed after the coup will end. Sondhi now heads the security council of Thailand's interim government.

Coup makers have accused Thaksin of massive corruption and abuse of power. They have set up several anti-graft bodies to investigate alleged wrongdoing by the fallen government.

Thaksin's lawyer said the current climate in Thailand made it premature to speak of Thaksin's return.

"If the situation remains the same, he will not return," Noppadol said.

Meanwhile, Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, a former prime minister and army commander, called for the military-backed government to allow Thaksin to come back and face his alleged wrongdoing.

"If he stays here, then we can take care of him and talk to him," he said.

The interim government has promised to step down after a new constitution is drafted and a general election held in October.

- Associated Press

=====================================================

Thaksin claims he has no plan to return

BANGKOK, Nov 11 - Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra--now staying in Beijing--has no plan to return to Thailand until the overall situation returns to normal, his legal advisor said Saturday.

Noppadol Pattama said he had talked to Mr. Thaksin by telephone and that the ex-premier told him he did not intend to sneak into the country, but would fly to Bangkok and disembark at Suvarnabhumi airport in a dignified manner if he returns. IF?!?!?!

Mr. Thaksin, toppled in a bloodless coup on September 19 while he was attending a United Nations meeting in New York, had given much attention to building the airport before its recent opening. He said he would prefer to step down at the airport rather than sneaking into the country secretly, Mr. Noppadol said.

Rumours spread earlier that Mr. Thaksin would make his way into Thailand secretly, overland via China, or crossing into Thailand from a river in Myanmar, but these rumours were unfounded, he reportedly told his legal advisor.

As a Thai citizen, Mr. Thaksin can return to this country any time he likes, but he has decided not to until the situation in the country returns to normal, Mr. Noppadol said. He asked people who had spread such rumours to stop doing so for the sake of reconciliation among people in the country.

When asked whether there is a possibility that the former prime minister would return after the end of martial law, Mr. Noppadol said he believed normalcy in the situation was the key factor.

He said Mr. Thaksin had told him that it was unnecessary to create unrest by using pressure in a democratic country and that he would quit politics as his family also wants him to spend more time with the family.

- MCOT

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's legal adviser, Nopadol Pattama, said rumour mongers were trying to fabricate a story about the ex-premier's return by the end of the year.

"Rumours about Thaksin's pending return by car or other means of transport are groundless," Nopadol said.

He said he was informed during a telephone conversation with his client that Thaksin would decide to return at a time deemed appropriate and with a publicised and dignified arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Nopadol said Thaksin would not allow himself to inflame tensions between the CNS and its opponents. He also speculated that Thaksin might retire from politics if the volatile situation persisted.

Meanwhile, a source from the Thai Rak Thai Party said he was confident that Thaksin would be back at his home by next month.

- The Nation

[Tony Clifton]

Thaksin would decide to return at a time deemed appropriate and with a publicised and dignified arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Decide?

Publicised AND dignified arrival?

Suwarnabhumi Airport?

I don't think so.

Still thinks he's running the show huh... or wants to get it back on the road.

Edited November 11, 2006 by Tony Clifton

[cclub75]

Surely as the halo around Surayud grows

Surreal...

Oh yes indeed, Surayud is polite and well manered.

But, what are his ideas ? What is the substance of his actions ?

South ? He says sorry. What else ?

Thaksin's legacy ? No comments.

And what about all the other issues ?

Nobody knows.

[sriracha john]

Ousted Thaksin still in China, not returning to Thailand soon

BANGKOK - Thailand's deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra is still in China and has no plans to return to the kingdom anytime soon, his legal adviser said Saturday.

"He is still in Beijing and will stay there for a while," Noppadol Pattama told reporters, adding Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in September, was not returning to Thailand anytime soon.

Thaksin was in New York when the coup happened, and had since been living in self-imposed exile in London, where he has a home, but the former premier has been staying in China since this month, raising speculation he might return home soon.

Local reports said Thaksin might come back to Thailand in December, but Noppadol declined to say where the deposed leader would go after Beijing. *Perhaps British Virgin Islands? It's warm, it's British enough for his Anglophile leanings, and he may have a few billion still left over there*

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who was installed by the military following the coup, has said he was willing to hold talks with Thaksin about his return, if he approached Surayud to make formal arrangements.

But Surayud also said Thaksin should wait until "security issues" were resolved before looking to return.

The premier said Friday martial law, imposed after the putsch, was still needed in the kingdom's north, a stronghold of Thaksin.

- AFP

Edited November 12, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Family lawyer Noppadol Pattama told a press conference yesterday that the ousted prime minister is not planning to sneak back into the country _ either by car to Chiang Mai or by boat from Burma _ as speculated, but will return with honour to Suvarnabhumi airport which he worked hard to see finished sorry Thakky, but it's still not finished despite all your "hard work" , he said. Mr Noppadol said Mr Thaksin is due to leave Beijing shortly, but his next stop has not been revealed.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/12Nov2006_news07.php

[Tony Clifton]

Airport on which he "worked hard" to see finished.

Today's magic word

Interfere:

1. to come into opposition, as one thing with another, esp. with the effect of hampering action or procedure (often fol. by with): Constant distractions interfere with work.

2. to take part in the affairs of others; meddle (often fol. by with or in): to interfere in another's life.

3. to interpose or intervene for a particular purpose.

Edited November 12, 2006 by Tony Clifton

[cwilliam]

I wonder what exactly they mean by "sneak" into. He is a Thai citizen and I am not sure if they can legally bar his entry to the country. Being the country is under military rule, they could detain him, but I don't know if they keep him out without creating a really big international furor.

My guess is that he might plan to enter the country "discreetly."

I'm just wanting to do a reality check here. Thailand now has a group of military people making the ultimate decisions....they have abolished the constitution and have suggested interim rules which give them the ultimate authority to veto any actions in administering the country and in creating the new constitution.....they are at least temporarily basically make up the laws as they wish.....so.....how is it that you think that perhaps they can not "legally" bar his entry into the country?

Chownah

Right on!They can do anything they want to do.No problem from me.Toxin did anything he wanted to do.What goes around comes around!!