Thaksin Banned From Entering Thailand

[sriracha john]

Thaksin to stay out of politics: Chaturon

Thai Rak Thai party acting leader Chaturon Chaisang, after a telephone call to Thaksin Shinawatra, said the deposed prime minister had insisted he would not get involved with politics.

Chaturon said Monday at the party's headquarters the call was his first to the former party leader since the coup.

"It was just a normal talk. I asked him about his life [in London] and also made an apology to him for not having called him before," he said.

Chaturon said Thaksin thanked him for taking over as acting leader of the party. However, the overthrown premier did not say much and only emphasised that he was not Thai Rak Thai leader anymore and he would not do anything relating to politics, Chaturon said.

"He told me the party's activities were now mine [to handle]. I understood that it was his last message, and I will follow his words, yet I don't feel like the real leader, just the interim leader. It depends on the executive board to select the [real] leader," he said.

The Nation

[Maizefarmer]

Going back to the posting that started this thread, in which it was said that the current powers would not want Thaksin to return as putting him under hosue arrest would be comaprable to what the Burmese are doing with Aung Sung in Burma.......???????

I find that somewhat ironic - as if he does return why should he be treated like the junta treats Aung Sung, but secondly the junta have made it clear on many occassion that Aung Sang is free to leave Burma at any time.

The point is she would not be allowed to return - which is, er ..........treating him exactly how they don't wish to be seen treating him.

[bkkandrew]

Going back to the posting that started this thread, in which it was said that the current powers would not want Thaksin to return as putting him under hosue arrest would be comaprable to what the Burmese are doing with Aung Sung in Burma.......???????

I find that somewhat ironic - as if he does return why should he be treated like the junta treats Aung Sung, but secondly the junta have made it clear on many occassion that Aung Sang is free to leave Burma at any time.

The point is she would not be allowed to return - which is, er ..........treating him exactly how they don't wish to be seen treating him.

This is irony of the situation and the circle that the Thai Junta cannot square!

[sriracha john]

excerpt from:

Compelling non-political reasons for Thaksin to stay put

Thaksin's departure from London would be a big blow to the Thai community there. They would be deprived of the fun of having someone to vent their fury on. Their otherwise dull life has been made more colourful by the anticipation that they might run into the former prime minister on the street or in restaurants.

A group of Thais had the thrill of their life recently when they encountered Thaksin in a Thai restaurant. Their lunch suddenly turned into a feisty party with all the booing and name calling. Shouting "Thaksin get out!", one lady hurled a half-full glass at the stunned former strongman. Embarrassed - and without security guards to help him break the nose of his assailant - Thaksin timidly walked out of the restaurant in his water-stained jacket followed by two aides.

You can bet that once Thaksin returns from China every Thai in London will be on the lookout again for him. That's all the more reason why Thaksin shouldn't deny his compatriots their daily excitement by going back to Bangkok.

- The Nation

[farangsay]

excerpt from:

Compelling non-political reasons for Thaksin to stay put

Thaksin's departure from London would be a big blow to the Thai community there. They would be deprived of the fun of having someone to vent their fury on. Their otherwise dull life has been made more colourful by the anticipation that they might run into the former prime minister on the street or in restaurants.

A group of Thais had the thrill of their life recently when they encountered Thaksin in a Thai restaurant. Their lunch suddenly turned into a feisty party with all the booing and name calling. Shouting "Thaksin get out!", one lady hurled a half-full glass at the stunned former strongman. Embarrassed - and without security guards to help him break the nose of his assailant - Thaksin timidly walked out of the restaurant in his water-stained jacket followed by two aides.

You can bet that once Thaksin returns from China every Thai in London will be on the lookout again for him. That's all the more reason why Thaksin shouldn't deny his compatriots their daily excitement by going back to Bangkok.

- The Nation

You finished your post with a suggestion it was printed in the Nation.

Didn't read it there myself , don't find the words used likely to be from a Nation

piece and think you are getting a little free with literary license.

Suggest you post your opinions as your opinions and not tag them as "news" items.

[sriracha john]

excerpt from:

Compelling non-political reasons for Thaksin to stay put

Thaksin's departure from London would be a big blow to the Thai community there. They would be deprived of the fun of having someone to vent their fury on. Their otherwise dull life has been made more colourful by the anticipation that they might run into the former prime minister on the street or in restaurants.

A group of Thais had the thrill of their life recently when they encountered Thaksin in a Thai restaurant. Their lunch suddenly turned into a feisty party with all the booing and name calling. Shouting "Thaksin get out!", one lady hurled a half-full glass at the stunned former strongman. Embarrassed - and without security guards to help him break the nose of his assailant - Thaksin timidly walked out of the restaurant in his water-stained jacket followed by two aides.

You can bet that once Thaksin returns from China every Thai in London will be on the lookout again for him. That's all the more reason why Thaksin shouldn't deny his compatriots their daily excitement by going back to Bangkok.

- The Nation

You finished your post with a suggestion it was printed in the Nation.

Didn't read it there myself , don't find the words used likely to be from a Nation

piece and think you are getting a little free with literary license.

Suggest you post your opinions as your opinions and not tag them as "news" items.

It IS in The Nation...

perhaps this can help you find it...

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/14/opi...on_30018884.php

Edited November 13, 2006 by sriracha john

[venturalaw]

Thaksin cannot return for at least a year: Surayud

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Sunday that he would not allowed his predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand for at least a year.

He said Thaksin should wait until a new government is elected in a year before returning to Thailand.

"The best way is that Thaksin should wait until the problems have been solved during the year ahead. When there is an election and a new government, it will be a proper time [for Thaksin to return to Thailand], Surayud said.

Surayud said it was inappropriate to allow Thaksin to return and put him under a house arrest as suggested by former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyud as doing so would be similar to an action of the Burmese military government.

-- The Nation 2006-11-12

if he re turns illegally he should be hung!!

Actually, the word is 'hanged'.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Just swinging in the rain

[lukamar]

If the Government is off at the Hanoi summit, I just can't help wondering.. Will Thaksin pull a Sonthi on the Junta and arrive in Thailand while the new PM is off visiting the other leaders trying to explain the reasoning behind the coup. Would make for a very interesting episode in this Thai Soap Opera and cause all sorts of repercussions with APEC.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

If the Government is off at the Hanoi summit, I just can't help wondering.. Will Thaksin pull a Sonthi on the Junta and arrive in Thailand while the new PM is off visiting the other leaders trying to explain the reasoning behind the coup. Would make for a very interesting episode in this Thai Soap Opera and cause all sorts of repercussions with APEC.

He could only afford to do that if he had a death wish.

[sriracha john]

As the current thread on extra judicial killings indicates, his view is that "life is cheap." .... well, other people's lives are cheap, anyway.

[cdnvic]

That's a significant step up from a few days ago as he walked the streets of London looking like a homeless wino:

...after enjoying an all night session at The Frog's <deleted>, the diposed PM mused that he may well have been wrong about the 1pm closings"

[Rumourz]

Well, he was seen happily shopping with this wife in Hong Kong yesterday...

Thaksin and His wife

The news reporter said he doesn't look miserable for being banned from returning to his own nation. He was friendly to the local reporters and let them take pictures of him with his wife shopping happily in HK.

Edited November 14, 2006 by Rumourz

[Jai Dee]

Well, he was seen happily shopping with this wife in Hong Kong yesterday...

Thaksin and His wife

Also noted here.

[pete_r]

If the Government is off at the Hanoi summit, I just can't help wondering.. Will Thaksin pull a Sonthi on the Junta and arrive in Thailand while the new PM is off visiting the other leaders trying to explain the reasoning behind the coup. Would make for a very interesting episode in this Thai Soap Opera and cause all sorts of repercussions with APEC.

Or he may be headed for the APEC in Vietnam directly. The Hong-Kong reporter mentions he is going to an "unspecified Southeast Asian country" in the next few days.

Funny, just after his trip to China.

[bkkandrew]

If the Government is off at the Hanoi summit, I just can't help wondering.. Will Thaksin pull a Sonthi on the Junta and arrive in Thailand while the new PM is off visiting the other leaders trying to explain the reasoning behind the coup. Would make for a very interesting episode in this Thai Soap Opera and cause all sorts of repercussions with APEC.

Or he may be headed for the APEC in Vietnam directly. The Hong-Kong reporter mentions he is going to an "unspecified Southeast Asian country" in the next few days.

Funny, just after his trip to China.

Goodness, that would stir things up... Maybe he was buying a new suit in HK for the occasion??

[Davros]

So much for his Suwarnabhumi airport "return with dignity". There would be anti and pro-Thaksin there to greet him and maybe confrontations, that the country doesn't need for a while, even if only verbal.

Smart move.

You seem to forget that even if he made some money xtra, his the only one that made life a little bit better for the pour people, 30 bath for Medicare, and prolonging school instead 6 to 8 years and some more.

The airport has Been projected since 30 years back and all the involved at that time before Thaksin got rich.

Now junta wants to reverse all those things like Medicare for 30 bath and all the good things that came out of Thaksins 6 years and putting Thailand back 30 years in history, I cant see that this is what you want

Just a quick point. The 30 baht health care costs more in administration to run this policy. A P/R stunt. Much improved now as health care is free to the poor and less of taxpayers money is used.

[asd]

New York >>> London >>> Beijing >>> Hongkong >>> Bali ???

London

Deposed PM is in Hong Kong

Ousted PM said he would leave Hong Kong soon to an unidentified Southeast Asian country, according to Hong Kong-based Oriental Daily News.

A Hong Kong newspaper published on its front page photos of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra holding hands of his wife as they went shopping at a shopping centre in Hong Kong.

One picture showed him trying on a dark blazer in a Marc Jacobs boutique, Associated Press reported Monday.

Thaksin told reporter of the Oriental Daily News that he is now unemployed and that it was too soon to return home.

The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong declined to comment on the report.

"I have no capacity to give any comments about the former prime minister's private trip to Hong Kong," Consul Waramon Waruttma told The AP.

 The mass-market paper quoted Thaksin as saying he arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday and will depart in the next few days for an unspecified Southeast Asian country.

Thaksin said he would wait until Thailand is more stable before he returns home, the Chinese-language paper reported. The former leader has been living in London, where he owns an apartment, since being deposed by a military coup in September.

Thaksin joked with the reporter and photographer, saying, ``I need a job because I'm unemployed now,'' the paper reported.

The AP reported the photos showed him dressed casually in dark slacks, an electric blue zip-up jacket, loafers and a striped dress shirt with the top two buttons unbuttoned. One picture showed him at a store counter buying a black handbag and two blouses _ one with a zebra print and the other with a purple pattern.

Thaksin also asked how the paper found out he was in Hong Kong. He managed to elude most other Hong Kong media, which are notorious for being hyper aggressive and extremely efficient at tracking the movements of celebrities.

When asked to give the paper an exclusive interview, Thaksin replied, ``No, no, no, no, no,'' the report said.

Thailand's interim prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, has said Thaksin should not return to Thailand until after general elections scheduled to be held a year from now. Thaksin's reappearance could spark clashes, he has said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/14...es_30018915.php

Hongkong

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

Hooah !! It's an army thing.

[Grover]

he looks lost and confused.

perhaps he is still scratching his head wondering, "what did I do wrong?"

[BigSnake]

If a Deported Germany Farang can find a way to enter Thailand, I am 99.999% sure Khun Thaksin can find a way. He does look wore out, from the looks of recent pics from Hong Kong; maybe all the traveling(ie Darn old JET LAg)

[cclub75]

China, Hong Kong and next an "unidentified Southeast Asian country"... He continues to play with the junta's nerves...

It's obvious.

He's acting like a mosquito : flying around you, always, and making some noise.

I mean : London is great for shopping...

This guy is really a master piece as for manipulation.

[Thaising]

China, Hong Kong and next an "unidentified Southeast Asian country"... He continues to play with the junta's nerves...

It's obvious.

He's acting like a mosquito : flying around you, always, and making some noise.

I mean : London is great for shopping...

This guy is really a master piece as for manipulation.

Flying around in these regions make the present junta really worried. His next stop could be shingapore where he kept part of of his ill gotten money. If opportunity allows, he may spring back to run this country.

[asd]

Compelling non-political reasons for Thaksin to stay put

Will he or will he not return? This is turning into a multibillion-baht question about the multibillion-baht former political leader who's dying to come home from exile.

Thaksin Shinawatra seems to be having fun playing games with the Surayud government and the Council for National Security (CNS) by keeping them guessing about his intentions. But use a little imagination on ways the billionaire-turned politician could put his immense wealth to use, and the spectre of Thaksin popping up somewhere in the country is no longer far-fetched.

While CNS chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin declared in a recent interview with The Nation that he would stop Thaksin's plane from landing, he knows he cannot be absolutely sure of monitoring every incoming flight - not to mention every general under his command. Rumours that Thaksin remarked to his aides that "a billion baht should be enough to buy them off" were certainly not lost on the coup leader.

Then former prime minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh gave a new twist to the whole issue by announcing over the weekend that Thaksin should be allowed to return because it would be easier to keep him under watch here than while he was on the loose. A strange statement indeed coming from a man who reportedly had a hand in pushing for Thaksin's ouster.

Though "Big Jiew" is synonymous with incoherence, his latest remarks shouldn't be discounted too quickly. More often than not, Chavalit sees things coming long before others do. He probably knows as well as anyone that Thaksin only needs to dig into his deep pockets if there is a channel for him to buy his way back to Thailand. The only question is when.

But politics aside, there are hordes of reasons why Thaksin shouldn't come home, at least not for now. And London is the place for him to be. For Thaksin's sake, somebody should find a way to relay to him at least some of the following:

l We only need one Aung San Suu Kyi at a time. One theory that has been making the rounds in Bangkok is that Thaksin sees himself as potentially another "freedom fighter" in the making. By defying the entry ban imposed by the CNS, the former prime minister hopes he will be put under house arrest the minute he sets foot in Bangkok. And that would set off a "free Thaksin" movement that hopefully would snowball into a mass street protest.

Well, Burma definitely still needs world attention and Thaksin should not try to steal the spotlight from Suu Kyi. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont showed how well he understood the situation when he told reporters over the weekend that what happened with our neighbour (translation: Burma) shouldn't be repeated in Thailand.

l The political hopelessness during five years under Thaksin has driven many normally sensible Thais to seek solace in astrology. The day the military seized power and blocked Thaksin from coming home, they knew that, after all, astrologers were the only people they could trust. Their eerily coinciding predictions that the politically mighty leader would some day find himself exiled to a strange land came true overnight.

As a result astrologers have gained a new prominence and we can be sure that any future political analysis will take their opinions into account. The last thing we superstitious Thais want is for Thaksin to prove the astrologers wrong by coming home.

l Thaksin's departure from London would be a big blow to the Thai community there. They would be deprived of the fun of having someone to vent their fury on. Their otherwise dull life has been made more colourful by the anticipation that they might run into the former prime minister on the street or in restaurants.

A group of Thais had the thrill of their life recently when they encountered Thaksin in a Thai restaurant. Their lunch suddenly turned into a feisty party with all the booing and name calling. Shouting "Thaksin get out!", one lady hurled a half-full glass at the stunned former strongman. Embarrassed - and without security guards to help him break the nose of his assailant - Thaksin timidly walked out of the restaurant in his water-stained jacket followed by two aides.

You can bet that once Thaksin returns from China every Thai in London will be on the lookout again for him. That's all the more reason why Thaksin shouldn't deny his compatriots their daily excitement by going back to Bangkok.

l With the military top brass in disarray and the level of public discontent rising, trying to make sense of what is going on is already a handful for the Thai media. The last thing they need right now is a diversion.

It's already a perfect world for the media as it is. With Thaksin stuck in London and occasionally making noises and with his family members shuttling between Bangkok and his place of exile, there will never be a dearth of news about him.

l Thaksin mustn't forget his crowning moment just months back when he proudly asserted that he had successfully turned his Thai Rak Thai Party into a political establishment. The party would live on, with or without him.

It's understandable that Thaksin is feeling restless about his party's future despite the fact that he has been away for less than two months. But come on! He should be a good CEO and let the party's rank and file prove they can carry on the torch - with or without him around.

l Thaksin's personal lawyer Noppadol Pattama tried to reassure opponents of the former prime minister that he had no intention of sneaking back into the country any time in the near future. If he ever returned, Noppadol asserted, he would not be shy about it and would walk through Suvarnabhumi Airport with his head held high.

But wait a minute! For Thaksin's own sake, please reconsider the idea no matter how attractive it may sound to a man raring to step back into the limelight at any cost. Thaksin might have been so preoccupied with his soul-searching in London, and now in China, that he has become oblivious to all the grumbling and cursing over the mess at the new airport. Just imagine how angry passengers jumping from toilet to toilet looking for a vacant urinal or annoyedly groping their way through the dimly lit waiting lounges would react at the sight of the man responsible for their predicament. Thaksin could be lynched before he even gets to immigration.

Thepchai Yong

The Nation

[Siripon]

If the Government is off at the Hanoi summit, I just can't help wondering.. Will Thaksin pull a Sonthi on the Junta and arrive in Thailand while the new PM is off visiting the other leaders trying to explain the reasoning behind the coup. Would make for a very interesting episode in this Thai Soap Opera and cause all sorts of repercussions with APEC.

Or he may be headed for the APEC in Vietnam directly. The Hong-Kong reporter mentions he is going to an "unspecified Southeast Asian country" in the next few days.

Funny, just after his trip to China.

Goodness, that would stir things up... Maybe he was buying a new suit in HK for the occasion??

The government, ie Surayud will be in Hanoi but the coup instigators and guardians of power, ie Sonti will still be in Bangkok.

[sriracha john]

he can't even do the above correctly...

[Old Man River]

Compelling non-political reasons for Thaksin to stay put

Then former prime minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh gave a new twist to the whole issue by announcing over the weekend that Thaksin should be allowed to return because it would be easier to keep him under watch here than while he was on the loose. A strange statement indeed coming from a man who reportedly had a hand in pushing for Thaksin's ouster.

The Nation

Really not a strange statement in the least. General Chavalit knows full well it is better to keep your enemies in front of you rather than behind you.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin can present case over exile, PM says

Deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra is welcome to present his case to the government if he is dissatisfied about not being allowed to return home for another year, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Thaksin arrived at Indonesia's island of Bali yesterday, reportedly for a short holiday.

The interim government is keeping a close watch on Thaksin's active movements in countries around Thailand, a highly placed source said yesterday.

The administration was also gathering information about who the ousted PM was meeting in those countries, particularly in China. Thaksin spent Sunday and Monday in Shenzhen, where he met a few senior members from the Thai Rak Thai Party.

The ex-premier received red-carpet treatment from some Thai officials and employees of certain Thai businesses while he was in China, said the source.

In a related development, former foreign minister Prasong Soonsiri supported the suggestion of stripping Thaksin of his diplomatic status to curb his activities abroad.

Surayud said a year from now, after an elected government had been put in place, should be an appropriate time for Thaksin to return. If Thaksin was not happy about that, he was welcome to present his side of the story.

"We'd welcome it," Surayud said.

He said the government had no plan to revoke Thaksin's diplomatic passport because the tradition of providing former leaders with the privilege should be maintained as long as he did not do anything wrong.

Surayud said the government was not concerned about Thaksin's visits to cities around the world, saying it was within his right to do so, even if he was going to meet with government leaders to clear his name.

Since being deposed, Thaksin has spent some time travelling around the region, prompting suspicious political observers to suggest his diplomatic passport be taken away from him. Prasong yesterday called on the Foreign Ministry to revoke Thaksin's diplomatic privileges. He said "all the mistakes that Thaksin committed during his term in office are enough reason to deny the privileges reserved for government officials".

Concerns about Thaksin's activities were revived two days ago when he popped up in Hong Kong, where he was photographed shopping in a mall with wife Pojaman.

Thaksin arrived on the Indonesian resort island of Bali yesterday, reportedly for a holiday. He was whisked from the plane to a limousine and left in a convoy of cars without speaking to reporters.

The convoy headed for the luxury Sheraton resort in the tourist enclave of Nusa Dua.

His lawyer, Noppodol Patama, said Thaksin would stay on Bali for five to seven days and then would return to China or another country in the region.

He could not say whether Pojaman would go with her husband to celebrate her birthday on November 22.

An Indonesian greeting for you Pojy:

Selamat ulang tahun naga wanita

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Thaksin flees cold weather in Europe to Asia

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been travelling around in Asian countries because he escaped from cold weather in Europe, his aide said Thursday.

Noppadol Pattama, a legal aide of Thaksin, said Thaksin was accustomed to Asian climate so he had to travel around China and Hong Kong to escape from extreme cold weather.

Noppadol said Thaksin went to Bali because he wants to have a vacation there and did not intend to meet Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

Noppadol said Thaksin would return to Hong Kong after leaving Bali.

The Nation

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

It's going to be a long, hard, bitterly cold Winter in Europe and it's not really even begun yet. I hope Thakky packed enough suitcases to travel around Asia during all those months... errrr, wait a sec, he already did. He left Thailand with 100-plus suitcases. Good thinking, Thakky.

[sriracha john]

*describing his shopping expedition while in Hong Kong*

The report said for 40 minutes, the couple browsed around designer shops including Marc Jacobs, where Thaksin tried on a dark suit but didn’t buy it.

His wife chose a handbag and two blouses worth a total of HK$4,680 ($600).

While paying for his wife’s shopping with his credit card, Thaksin joked with the sales assistant:

“I have no money.” ....which is factually rather true... most of his money actually belongs to the taxpayers of Thailand. The "joke" is on them.

They were then whisked away in a van.

- AFP

[bobfla]

Toxin seems to be playing hop-scotch all over Asia, getting up to whatever devious mischief and giving the Junta a nervous breakdown in the process. Surely if the Foreign Minister is really in favour of withdrawing our dear ex-Pm's diplomatic privileges (Nation report today), why the bloody heck don't they? With the Hanoi junket just about due, this would maybe a very sensible precaution.

Edited November 16, 2006 by bobfla