Junta Vs Thaksin

[GWR]

Someone at 'The Nation' seems to be having a bad hair day: -

Thaksin in Beijing, failing to meet Surayud


Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flied to China to seek a meeting with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont but failed to meet him so he stayed in Beijing now, it was reported.

Matichon reported quoting a Government House source as saying that Thaksin went to China on Tuesday and tried to arrange a meeting with Surayud but Surayud declined to meet him.

The source said Thaksin then went to Beijing and stayed there for a vacation and golf playing.

Nation TV Thursday quoted Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, leader of the Council for National Security, as confirming that Thaksin is in Beijing now.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30017816

[GWR]

Urgent: Thaksin's diplomatic passport revoked
The Foreign Ministry has revoked deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's diplomatic passport.

More details to follow.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30023785

[GWR]

Things are a bit unsettled at home too: -

Our sales of Shin Corp to Temasek accordance with laws : Panthongtae
Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of ousted prime minister, reiterated Wednesday that the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings was in accordance to the laws.

He was speaking to reporters after testifying to the sub-committee of the Assets Examination Committee for about two hours on Wednesday. The sub-committee was investigating his involvement in the controversial business transaction.

Panthongtae, who was accompanied by his younger sister Paethongtarn, was hounded by scores of reporters who crowded his entry and departure of the AEC office. The two had to litterally fight their way through the thick crowd of reporters as security details appeared helpless to push off the fiesty journalists.

The two arrived at about 10:50AM and Panthongtae entered the questioning room at 11am. They break for lunch noon and re-entered the process at about 1:45PM.

It was reported that he asked for a break three times during the procedures.

He said he was consulted over the process with his father who has been abroad since being ousted by the military junta in July.

On the way back to his car after finishing the testifying, his supporters who gathered since in the morning, shouted, "Oak (Pantongtae's nickname), Fight On, Fight On."

Meanwhile a sub committee member, Klanarong Chantik said that the sub-committee members just took notes what Pantongtae said in the questioning room.

"We are in the process of collecting information and evidence concerning the allegations," Klanarong said.

Another sub committee member, Sak Korsaengrueng, said that Pantongtae was invited to give the testimonies, not as an accused.

"Everything is fine. He could answer nearly all questions which are basic in nautre. It is likely that we will not invite him for another testimony unless we need more information," Sak said.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30023783.php

[GWR]

Originally Posted by GWR

Things are a bit unsettled at home too: -



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30023783.php

My duty was to sign documents" : Panthongtae

Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, testified during his session with an Assets Examination Subcommittee on Wednesday that it was his mother's personal secretary who conducted the sale on his behalf of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.


Wiroj Laohapan, a subcommittee member, quoted Panthongtae as testifying that he did not know much about the sale of the shares of Shin Corps and his duty was just to signed the appropriate documents while Kanjanapa Honghern, personal secretary of his mother, Khunying Pojaman, was in charge of all procedures involving the controversial sale.

Panthongtae testified before the subcommittee for two hours concerning his involvement in the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings last year. The subcommittee was investigating his involvement in the controversial business transaction.

According to Wiroj, most of his answers to the subcommittee's questions were: "No, I don't know."

Wiroj added that the subcommittee will ask Kanjanapa, who is scheduled to appear on January 12, to clarify Pantongtae's testimony. Thaksin's second child, daughter Pintongta, is scheduled for January 24 for questioning on the same issue.

On his way back to his car after the session, Panthongtae reiterated that the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings was in accordance with the law.

......

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30023783.php

[GWR]

Originally Posted by GWR

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30023785

FM cancel ousted premier and wife's diplomatic passports

The Foreign Ministry has revoked diplomatic passports of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, after an investigation concluded the former premier has been engaging in political activities while in exile, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.


The ministry has also instructed all of its embassies not to facilitate Thaksin's travels and visits, said deputy Foreign Ministry's spokesman Kiatthikhun Chartprasert.

The move came after months of debate among top government officials, as well as a growing call from the public, over whether Thaksin's diplomatic passport should be revoked to curb his movement and activities abroad.

"Taking into consideration the appropriateness and security concern, the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and wife have been revoked since December 31, 2006," Kiatthikhun said.

Thaksin, however, is permitted to continue to carry an ordinary Thai passport that will enabled him to travel abroad but would not be as convenient than the diplomatic one with red cover. With exception of Asean members, a number of countries abroad required a pre-approved visa for Thai passport holders.

The idea of revoking Thaksin's passport surfaced almost immediately after he was ousted in September 19, 2006.

Thaksin has been visiting a number of neighbouring countries, including China, Japan and Indonesia, as well as Hong Kong, where he believed to have met some of his close aids.

Suspicious of him plotting a political comeback immediately surfaced and kicked off a round of debate among the coup leaders, diplomats and senior officials.

Foreign Ministry had consistently downplayed the demand on the ground that all former prime ministers and foreign ministers of Thailand were permitted to hold on to their diplomatic passport for life.

The junta accused Thaksin of orchestrating what they called "under current" to create trouble for the people in the power.

The issue was raised at the Parliamentarian debate when Deputy Foreign Ministry Sawanit Kongsiri informed the National Legislative Assembly in closed session that the ministry has already terminated the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and his wife.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30023787.php

[GWR]

This report didn't come up in The Nation yesterday. Perhaps this article tells us why. Perhaps wary of what the CNS's position towards the media might be next, some local papers may have decided to err on the side of caution. I've just checked again. Neither The Nation or Bangkok Post online editions appear to have this headline: -

Deposed Thai PM Thaksin quits politics - lawyer

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has quit politics four months after he was ousted in a bloodless coup, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

The announcement by lawyer Noppadon Patama came just hours after coup leaders summoned radio and television broadcasters, all of whom have to rent air time from the government, not to carry any statements from Thaksin.

"I want to ask every television channel and every radio station not to broadcast messages or statements of the former prime minister and leaders of the past ruling party," General Winai Phattiyakul told a gathering of 100 media representatives.

"If they don't listen, you can kick them out of your station or if you can't use your judgement, I will use mine to help you run your station," Winai said.

It was the first time the generals have issued a censorship order since they ousted Thaksin in a bloodless Sept. 19 coup, accusing him of rampant corruption, charges he denies.

The order appeared to reflect military concerns that Thaksin was busy undermining the government, but Noppadon denied the billionaire was up to anything.

"He has conveyed his message from Hong Kong that he no longer wants to be involved in politics," Noppadon told reporters.

"He will not run for the next general election because he doesn't have any more political ambition to be the prime minister again," he said.

"Thaksin Shinawatra wants to see national reconciliation."

But Noppadon said Thaksin would remain a member of the party he founded, Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais), which faces disbandment on electoral fraud charges.

NOT CONVINCED

Some analysts said they were not convinced Thaksin meant to withdraw from a political arena he dominated for five years, winning two landslide elections before street protests against him led to political deadlock.

"He must be homesick and wants to return home, but not in the very near future," political analyst Sukhum Nualskul said.

"The fact that he wants to remain a member of Thai Rak Thai means that he wants his party to be politically active and perhaps return to power again," he said.

The coup leaders have said repeatedly they do not want Thaksin to return home anytime soon, fearing his presence could bring his supporters into the streets.

But Noppadon said Thaksin, who won elections on the back of massive rural support but faced street protests last year which led to political stalemate, would not come home soon.

"His return must not be a cause for any unrest," he said.

His announcement came as a foreign ministry spokesman said the government had cancelled diplomatic passports issued to Thaksin and his wife.

Losing his diplomatic passport means Thaksin will not be able to call on Thai embassies for special treatment and he will have to travel on an ordinary passport.

"In accordance with changing political circumstances and security information, the foreign ministry has cancelled the diplomatic passports of former prime minister Thaksin and his wife," spokesman Kiattikhun Chartprasert told reporters.

He announced the move after word leaked that Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri told a closed-door meeting of the army-appointed parliament that Thaksin's diplomatic status had been cancelled due to his "political activities".

(Additional reporting by Kwankamol Posaiyakupta)

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070110/3/2vjkj.html

[GWR]

Thaksin says junta crackdown 'unfair'


Deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Thursday the junta's crackdown on his activities was unfair after the military revoked his diplomatic passport and banned television coverage of him.

The announcements late Wednesday came amid a flurry of orders by the junta that ousted Thaksin in September, including tough new measures to fight a separatist insurgency by Muslims in southern Thailand.

The orders were part of a security clampdown in Bangkok following deadly bombings in the Thai capital on New Year's Eve.

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadon Patama told AFP the former premier was currently in Hong Kong, and that he had spoken with him early Thursday about the new restrictions.

"Former prime minister Thaksin felt it was unfair to revoke his diplomatic passport, as well as his wife's, since he was not using that passport to travel to mount political activities," Noppadon said.

"The reason cited for canceling his passport was groundless," he said.

The foreign ministry said Thaksin's passport had been revoked "because of the changing security situation".

Agence France-Presse

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30023872

[GWR]

This might well be the most significant action taken against Thaksin since the coup. Thaksin & Suriya's involvement with the airport contracts was really the spark for many previous supporters to turn against them. Indeed, suspicions that the CNS was about to take action over dodgy contracts may have indirectly triggered the recent bombings: -

AOT files complaint against Thaksin, Suriya with AEC

Airports of Thailand (AOT) Friday filed a complaint to the Assets Examination Committee (AEC), alleging deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra and former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit for involving in a corruption deal concerning the CTX 9000 bomb scanners installed in the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

AOT president Chotisak Asapaviriya handed the complaint to AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem, which named 22 other people in the alleged fraud.

Chotisak also filed the other complaint, alleging Suriya and other 16 people for involving in a graft scandal of the electrical pipe project of the new airport.

Nam said the AEC would set two subcommittees to handle the two cases next week.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30023999

[GWR]

The thing that always amazes me about Thaksin is that he always tries his hardest to promote himself as a moldbreaker, but then acts in precisely the same manner as his predecessors. So just as with them (Look no further than Chaovalit for an example), we can be almost 100% certain that he will be back: -

Enough is enough : Thaksin

Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has vowed not to re-enter politics, saying "enough is enough."

Speaking publicly for the first time since his ousting, Thaksin told CNN that he would like to return to Thailand as a private citizen.

"After six years in politics, it is time for me to be normal citizens, outside political arena. Enough is enough," Thaksin said during brief interview with CNN from Singapore.

He dismissed suggestion that he was behind the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok and surrounding areas that resulted in the death of three people.

Thaksin called on the authorities to bring the culprit to justice and expressed sympathy with those who suffered from the bombings.

"I came from election. I came from the people," said Thaksin, described the bombings as "stupid".

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30024188.php

[thai2thai]

This southern country boy voted for Thaksin. Still pissed at all the know-it-all Bangkokians who denied me my voting rights. I do not want Thaksin to quit politics. We shall win again.

[Nekochan]

CONFIRMED! BBC and CNN websites have been blocked by ICT. As far as I recalled, that how Mr. Sitthichai once operated Eng Faculty.

Iron Fist. Gen Sonthi put the right man to the right job!

I hope coup supportors are pleased!

You can reach prachathai to read his interview.

[Scuba22]

Boy, CNN is certainly worked up about being censored in Thailand - if you go to their website, then click on to "world", then click on to "asia", and then to the fourth article, "Singapore-Bangkok row over Thaksin" (two notches lower than "'Daughter wanted' ad draws 100"), it's right there in paragraph 7:

"A CNN interview with Thaksin broadcast elsewhere Monday evening was not shown in Thailand."

So this is how seriously a major global news source takes press censorship of it's own content? Sad.

Thai2thai - would you care to discuss your reasons for supporting and voting for Thaksin? I am very interested any arguments in favor of Thaksin's policies that stand up to close inspection.

Cheers,

Scuba

[Wisarut]

Now Khun Eekkayut has criticized both Thaksin and SUrayut ... alogn with Bing Bung and Khun SOnthi ... The cuirrent action toward Singapore is too light
http://thaiinsider.info/portal/content/view/1895/23/

[GWR]

Former Thai PM Thaksin: "I'm Calling It Quits"
Thursday, Feb. 01, 2007

Since he was toppled from power last September, Thaksin Shinawatra has been crisscrossing the globe. TIME's Southeast Asia Bureau Chief Hannah Beech caught up with Thailand's former Prime Minister on Jan. 25 in Tokyo, where they spoke about the military coup against him, the new regime in Bangkok, and what he intends to do with his life.

Excerpts:

Thailand's former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, says that he is done with politics. But the coupmakers who ousted him fear a comeback

TIME: You've asserted that you and your old political party, Thai Rak Thai, were highly popular. Yet there was hardly any public outcry against the coup.
THAKSIN: It was the same with Thailand's 17 other coups. First, the people are shocked. Then they start to voice their concerns. And then they start to accept it, especially after it's endorsed by His Majesty the King. They're very disciplined. They obey. But they are watching what [the new rulers] are doing, and when they will return democracy to the people. People's tolerance is limited.

The new government has been responsible for controversial policies—the capital controls in December, and the proposed changes to the Foreign Business Act that could limit overseas ownership of companies in Thailand. What do you think of such moves?
No one can adopt protectionism anymore. Thailand has to be ready for globalization—you cannot turn your back on it. Anything that reverses what is already very open will cause confusion and uncertainty. This is when investors pull out.

You've met with business leaders in Japan, which is traditionally the biggest foreign investor in Thailand. What did you tell them?
I said this is a hiccup for Thailand, to not lose confidence in the country, that democracy will prevail and that their investments will bear fruit.

The junta has claimed that forces loyal to you were responsible for the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok. How do you respond?
I absolutely deny any connection. [Those responsible] must be brought to justice. Pointing a finger at somebody else, without evidence and investigation, is not right.

The junta also accuses you and your government of corruption.
The allegations are baseless. I asked very detailed questions about projects that went to the Cabinet for approval, and I shot down many of them. In all the previous 17 coups, corruption was one of the excuses. But some juntas ended up being more corrupt. At any rate, corruption will not go away in Thailand—it's in the system.

You have criticized the junta for muzzling the media, but you were accused of doing the same during your time in office.
The press printed groundless information about me. The press should not print unless it has all the facts because this can hurt the reputations of others. So I criticized them; sometimes I used strong words.

You did more than just express strong words. You slapped lawsuits on newspapers that printed things you didn't like.
That was the only way I could seek justice. But I never intervened in their activities or closed them down.

How mature is Thailand's democracy?
Without democracy it's not possible for Thailand to prosper, because without democracy, we will not get the trust and confidence [of investors] to develop the country. If you look at the development of civilizations, the first curve of civilization is military, or the prestige game. The second curve is industrialization, or the wealth game. The current curve is the wisdom game—information technology. We have to compete in the wisdom game; we should not be competing in the prestige game. But [the junta] wants to bring the country backward. That is not good. You should take the country forward.

Will you return to politics?
Right after I was ousted by the coup, I had mixed feelings. The negative feeling was that this was unfortunate for Thailand and its democracy, that the confidence I tried very hard to restore after the 1997 financial crisis would be lost. The positive part was, oh, I can retire now, I can have time for myself, for my family, I can meet friends and relax. Life is not that long, so if you can bring some happiness to yourself and your family, that's good ... I'm quite confident that if I ran [for election] today, I would win, [but] I have no political ambitions. I am calling it quits.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...584101,00.html

[GWR]

There are those who would say that the Thaksin governments' policies on the deep south were an unmitigated disaster. Yet, it is entirely in the nature of the man to believe that he has a vital role to play in the fix. This seems a bit like botching the DIY repair of the house water supply, calling in a professional plumber to fix it and still believing that you can take the credit for good workmanship. : -

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra told the Time magazine that he wanted to help bring reconciliation to the deep south of Thailand if he eventually returned home.

In his interview with the Time magazine's Feb 1 edition, Thaksin said he could help with the government's bid to heal the country.

"If you want to have national reconciliation, it's like clapping hands. If you try to clap with one hand, and take another hand far away, is it possible? You have to bring that hand back. I have quit politics, don't worry, but I want to help with reconciliation."

Thaksin government's tough policies in dealing with the violence in the south have been blamed for deaths of over 2,000 people, mostly in extra-judicial killings.
.....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30025776.php