Thaksin:All Out-of-Love

[GWR]

Pojaman flies out amid asylum reports

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, the wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, flew to China with her adopted brother and secretary amid rumours that they would seek political asylum abroad.

Pojaman, Bhannapot Damapong and Kanchanapa Honghern left Thailand at 10.40 AM from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Beijing. They were seen to carry several luggages with them. Some of her three children broke down into tears as they saw her off.

The report has been rife that they would seek political asylum after the Criminal Court sentenced the three to three years in jail after finding them guilty of tax evasion worth Bt546 million for the transactions of Shinawatra Computer and Communications shares.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holder summons both Thaksin and Pojaman, the defendants in the Rachadapisek land purchase case to give their last testimony on August 22.

Thaksin has been expected to return from China to Thailand on August 10. He left Thailand to Japan on August 1 to give a special lecture.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...s_30080007.php

One might get the impression that this has been deliberately timed with the arrival of US President George Bush as a partial distractor.

Somchai denies asylum reports

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, the wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, flew to China with her adopted brother and secretary on Tuesday amid rumours that they would seek political asylum abroad.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law said he did not believe Thaksin and Pojaman would seek asylum though he had never discussed with them about their plan. "They are Thai people so they must live in Thailand. Why do they have to seek asylum? I am confident they will not seek asylum,'' he said.

Pojaman, Bhannapot Damapong and Kanchanapa Honghern quietly left Thailand at 10.40 AM from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Beijing on Tuesday. They were seen to carry several luggages with them. Some of her three children broke down into tears as they saw her off.

The report has been rife that they would seek political asylum after the Criminal Court sentenced the three to three years in jail after finding them guilty of tax evasion worth Bt546 million for the transactions of Shinawatra Computer and Communications shares.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holder summons both Thaksin and Pojaman, the defendants in the Rachadapisek land purchase case to give their last testimony on August 11.

Thaksin has been expected to return from China to Thailand on August 10. He left Thailand to Japan on August 1 to give a special lecture.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...s_30080007.php

[GWR]

Thaksin, Pojaman to return to Thailand on Sunday

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, will return to Thailand Sunday night.

A source said the couple had booked tickets to return to the kingdom on Thai Airways International's Flight TG615, scheduled to land at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 9:45 pm Sunday.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30080116

[GWR]

Thaksin's airport no-show sparks exile speculation
By The Nation

Thaksin and his wife failed to board a late afternoon flight from Bejing to Bangkok on Sunday, sparking wild rumours that the couple might be planning an exile.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife; Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra failed to board a Thai International Airway Sunday afternoon flight from Beijing to return to Bangkok as earlier scheduled.

Their no-show sent Thai media outlets scrambling to check flight schedules and fuelling earlier speculation that the couple would never return from their trip to China following a guilty court verdict on Pojaman recently and a looming court ruling the couple in connection with the Ratchadapisek land case.

A THAI official source that the couple did not show up at Bejing airport to board TG 615 flight which left Bejing at 5.35pm Sunday. The flight is scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 9.45pm.

The next THAI filight is on Monday morning which arrives BKK at noon Monday, which means that even if they will be on this flight, they will miss a schedule to testify in court on 9am.

China Airlines does not have flights that land in Thailand Sunday night. Air China International has a 10.30 pm flight to Bangkok from Beijing.

Thaksin was in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic on Friday.

He is due to return to Bangkok to testify on Monday in a Supreme Court's hearing on the Rachadaphisek land-purchase deal, in which both Thaksin and Pojaman have been accused of abuse of power by taking part in the bidding for land owned by the Financial Institutions Development Fund, a unit of the Bank of Thailand.

Rumours had spread that they might not return home after Khunying Pojaman was sentenced to three years imprisonment for avoiding paying Bt546-million tax. Rumour mill said that they might seek political asylum in a foreign country.

The couple's legal aides and personal spokespersons earlier on Sunday denied Thaksin and Pojaman were planning an exile, saying they would arrive back in time for the testimony. Later Sunday evening, the likes of Pongthep Thepkanchana, Sansanee Nakpong and Sitha Thiwaree did not answer reporters' phone calls.

Reporters on Sunday evening were also trying to confirm reports that Thaksin's children had left Thailand.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30080231

[GWR]

See also previous post on Thaksin Shinawatra & Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra failing to turn up for their scheduled flight back to Bangkok

Supreme Court affirms that it will proceed with Ratchada land case if former PM does not return

A high ranking source within the Supreme Court responded to rumors that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may not report back to the court processing his involvement in the Ratchada land scandal, saying that the court will continue with the matter nonetheless. The source stated that a clear procedure has been set for proceeding with the case and also commented that speculation should not be placed on whether or not the deposed PM would return.

Reports however have stated that former premier Thaksin has booked a flight out of Beijing and is scheduled to return to Thailand at 9:40 PM today after attending the opening of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglis...d=255108100005

[GWR]

See today's previous 2 posts

ASYLUM RUMOURS
Thaksin to seek exile in England?
By The Nation

Thaksin and his wife failed to return to Bangkok on Sunday, sparking wild rumours that the couple might be planning an exile in England.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife; Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra failed to board a Thai International Airway Sunday afternoon flight from Beijing to return to Bangkok as earlier scheduled.

People Power Party sources said there were rumours the couple and their children would be seeking exile in England. The sources said it was understood that Thaksin and Pojaman were already on their way to England where they would meet their children. These claims cannot be immediately verified.

Their no-show at the Chinese airport send Thai media outlets scrambling to check flight schedules and fuelling earlier speculation that the couple would never return from their trip to China following a guilty court verdict on Pojaman recently and a looming court ruling the couple in connection with the Ratchadapisek land case.

A THAI official source that the couple did not show up at Bejing airport to board TG 615 flight which left Bejing at 5.35pm Sunday. The flight is scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 9.45pm.

The next THAI filight is on Monday morning which arrives BKK at noon Monday, which means that even if they will be on this flight, they will miss a schedule to testify in court on 9am.

China Airlines does not have flights that land in Thailand Sunday night. Air China International has a 10.30 pm flight to Bangkok from Beijing.

Thaksin was in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic on Friday.

He is due to return to Bangkok to testify on Monday in a Supreme Court's hearing on the Rachadaphisek land-purchase deal, in which both Thaksin and Pojaman have been accused of abuse of power by taking part in the bidding for land owned by the Financial Institutions Development Fund, a unit of the Bank of Thailand.

Rumours had spread that they might not return home after Khunying Pojaman was sentenced to three years imprisonment for avoiding paying Bt546-million tax. Rumour mill said that they might seek political asylum in a foreign country.

The couple's legal aides and personal spokespersons earlier on Sunday denied Thaksin and Pojaman were planning an exile, saying they would arrive back in time for the testimony. Later Sunday evening, the likes of Pongthep Thepkanchana, Sansanee Nakpong and Sitha Thiwaree did not answer reporters' phone calls.

Reporters on Sunday evening were also trying to confirm reports that Thaksin's children had left Thailand.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...s_30080232.php

[GWR]

See previous 3 posts

Channel 7 News just showed footage at SBIA of Thaksin fans awaiting his return, and then said that Thaksin Shinawatra, Khunying Pojaman & their children were on their way to London with the possibility of a press conference when they arrive there. No other info just yet! Not sure I entirely trust this report anyway.