Court gives Chaturon his three passports back

[rooster59]

Court gives Chaturon his three passports back

By The Nation

 

Chaturon

 

THE CENTRAL Administrative Court yesterday revoked an order by the director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs to cancel the passports of senior Pheu Thai Party politician Chaturon Chaisang on grounds that the order was unlawful and discriminatory.

 

The verdict is effective retrospectively to August 19, 2015, when the order was issued, according to a court statement.

 

Chaturon had three passports – two ordinary ones and a diplomatic passport – before the revocation order. He had served in several Cabinet posts including deputy prime minister, justice minister and education minister.

 

In January last year, the politician petitioned with the court against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Consular Affairs and its director-general, the foreign minister, permanent secretary for foreign affairs, Royal Thai Police, and the national police chief. He sought a court ruling to revoke the order by the Department of Consular Affairs.

 

The passports were revoked at the request of the Royal Thai Police on grounds that Chaturon criticised the performance of the post-coup administration and the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO). Police said he also resisted an NCPO order for him to report over allegations that he instigated chaos and violated laws after attending a political seminar at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand.

 

Chaturon said in his lawsuit that the revocation of his passports came after he commented on Facebook in May 2015, criticising the |constitution-drafting process and authorities.

 

His petition said he was not wanted by law, yet was prohibited from leaving the country. Chaturon said that after the 2014 coup, he had obtained permission from junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha to leave the country on many occasions – to China, Singapore, Japan and Germany – between October 2014 and June 2015. 

 

The politician said there were no good reasons why his passports had to be revoked, and that the order was issued abruptly in a way that he deemed unlawful and discriminatory.

 

In its verdict, the court agreed that judging from his frequent overseas journeys with no apparent attempts to flee, there were no reasons to revoke Chaturon’s passports. Instead, the revocation severely violated the plaintiff’s basic rights to travel overseas, the court said.

 

“The benefit of such measure was outweighed by the adverse impacts on the plaintiff,” the verdict said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30310952

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-01

[worgeordie]

Passport collector , why does he have diplomatic passport ?

regards worgeordie

[whatawonderfulday]

2 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Passport collector , why does he have diplomatic passport ?

regards worgeordie

Clue 1)  Because he was a diplomat when it was issued.

[NanLaew]

2 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Passport collector , why does he have diplomatic passport ?

regards worgeordie

Because.... wait for it.... he can!

[realenglish1]

Now you see what can happen under a government that was not elected 

 

 

[fvw53]

5 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

Clue 1)  Because he was a diplomat when it was issued.

However if your government considers that the diplomatic assignment ended such passport should be returned : so the question is ..."what is his actual diplomatic assignment"?

[Sydebolle]

Well, Pornthip Narongdej in 1988 became Miss Universe - her auntie ran that Little Duck Group of Hotels in Chiang Rai - remember? The Miss had a red passport as well .....

[dinsdale]

9 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

Clue 1)  Because he was a diplomat when it was issued.

Clue 2) If you are a diplomat you have a diplomatic passport. If you are not a diplomat you do not have a diplomatic passport. He is not a serving diplomat and therefore is not entitled to diplomatic status.

[seajae]

time they reined in these diplomatic passports, they should only apply to those currently serving in the government not passed has beens. Anyone no longer serving in the govt should not have them, they should also not have 2 normal passport unless of course they are trying to do something unlawful, the only time a second one is issued is due to lost or expired ones

[chickenslegs]

7 minutes ago, seajae said:

time they reined in these diplomatic passports, they should only apply to those currently serving in the government not passed has beens. Anyone no longer serving in the govt should not have them, they should also not have 2 normal passport unless of course they are trying to do something unlawful, the only time a second one is issued is due to lost or expired ones

Many countries will issue a citizen with 2 passports - mostly to people who travel on business or in connection with government work. One of the reasons is that some people need to travel to countries which do not approve of each other. Also, many countries continue to provide diplomatic passports for their former senior officials and politicians.

 

I would guess that every ex-PM or ex-deputy PM of Thailand has retained their diplomatic passport for life. I think it's just a courtesy thing - like retaining one's military title of rank after retirement.