Thread: Thaksin royal comments fuel Thai-Cambodia furore

Thaksin royal comments fuel Thai-Cambodia furore - Latest news around the world and developments close to home - MSN Malaysia News

Thailand Monday accused ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra of offending the country's monarchy, stepping up pressure on the fugitive tycoon as he prepares for a provocative trip to neighbouring Cambodia.
Thailand Monday accused ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra of offending the country's monarchy, stepping up pressure on the fugitive tycoon as he prepares for a provocative trip to neighbouring Cambodia.
The Thai government also said it was preparing a formal extradition request for Thaksin, who was toppled in a 2006 coup, when he visits Phnom Penh this week in his new capacity as economics adviser to the Cambodian leadership.
The row over Thaksin's appointment last week prompted Cambodia and Thailand to recall their respective ambassadors, deepening tensions after a series of deadly skirmishes on their border in the past year and a half.
Billionaire Thaksin was quoted by British daily The Times on Monday as calling for the reform of institutions around Thailand's revered monarchy, headed by 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
"Thailand needs to have a monarchy but it should not be abused or played by the palace circles," Thaksin reportedly said. "I can assure you His Majesty is above (politics), but those in the circle have a network."
When Thaksin, who is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, was asked if the "royal institution" needed reform, he said: "Yes, yes."
Thaksin later said in a statement that the article had misrepresented his words and had a misleading headline, adding: "The untrue report caused a misunderstanding among readers and Thais."
But Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya -- who has links to a royalist group that besieged Bangkok's airports last year to bring down the previous pro-Thaksin government -- hit out at Thaksin's comments.
Insulting or defaming the royal family is punishable by up to 15 years in jail in Thailand.
"I would like to say that Thaksin's interview violates the monarchy, which is the country's main institution. I wonder what the hidden agenda was that caused him to make this inappropriate move," Kasit told reporters.
"In his interview, there are several parts referring to his majesty the king, the crown prince and the monarchy and also refer to his majesty's role in politics," Kasit said.
Kasit said that the government would also seek the extradition of Thaksin when he goes to Cambodia.
Thaksin is due to give a lecture to Cambodian economics experts on Thursday but has not said exactly when he will arrive.
"We have prepared, the foreign ministry will contact the attorney general to seek extradition when he arrives in Cambodia," Kasit said, reiterating the government's pledge last week to get Thaksin to face justice.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, a close friend of Thaksin, has said he will reject any extradition request and that the former Thai leader's conviction in absentia for abuse of power last year was politically motivated.
Thaksin's visit threatens to take the shine off a summit of Southeast Asian leaders with US President Barack Obama that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is due to chair on Sunday in Singapore.
His presence on Thailand's doorstep -- the closest he has come since he last fled in August 2008 -- is also likely to alarm Abhisit's shaky coalition government as it approaches the end of its first year in power.
The colourful Thaksin, formerly the owner of Manchester City football club, has stirred up mass anti-government protests by his so-called "Red Shirt" supporters that have at times turned violent.
The protesters have also targeted the house of the king's main adviser, former general Prem Tinsulanonda, and accused Prem of orchestrating the coup against their twice-elected idol.
Thailand remains bitterly divided between Thaksin's main support base among the poor, especially in rural areas, and his foes in the Bangkok-based elite power circles of the palace, military and bureaucracy.

looks like they played the les majeste card

Originally Posted by zubber

looks like they played the les majeste card

To easy, isn't it?

Originally Posted by zubber

looks like they played the les majeste card

What a surprise . Normaly , something like this is usually followed by :

' The govournment have asked the police to study Thaksins underpants to see if they contain anything that could be construed as LM comments "

Yawn....... well they won't be burning the midnight oil on this one thats for sure.

The wheel of fortune around and around it goes and where it stops nobody gives a hoot anymore .

How long before border skirmishes kick off... Most likely just in time for the tourist high season...

Originally Posted by chitown

"In his interview, there are several parts referring to his majesty the king, the crown prince and the monarchy and also refer to his majesty's role in politics," Kasit said.

I read the full 12 page article. I may have missed something but nowhere did I detect any note of disrespect aimed at any member of the royal family. I would describe them as generally, grovellingly psycophantic. The references to HM and politics were of the nature 'His Majesty is above politics'.

Signs of desperation creeping in..

Just received a Thailand travel update update from the FCO
Thailand travel advice
"An invitation by Cambodia to ex-Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to visit on 12 November has raised tensions between the two countries further. You should remain alert to the local situation when travelling in other border regions, and at land crossings between the two countries."
So if it kicks off....you're on your own. Thanks FCO.

Well I think it was very sweet of them to think of you

Not playing with a full deck at the moment is this guy, two strikes in just over a week; accepting a job as a advisor for Thailand's historical enemy and doing a minefield of an interview with the foreign press discussing the monarchy.

Sorry mods, I see Chitown has already posted on this, feel free to merge.

Thaskin don't give a f[at][at]
He's working on the side for The New World Order
Divide and rule is what they want

He's not stupid enough to commit LM this far into the game and the government is taking every opportunity to try and use the only card they have left; LM.

Links to the articles.

Ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra calls for (edit) - Times Online

Thaksin Shinawatra: the full transcript of his interview with The Times - Times Online

Be careful what you say.......

Thai government bans Thaksin Shinawatra interview with The Times - Times Online

A spokesman for Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, warned journalists not to report the contents of the interview and hinted that the Government would use the country’s draconian lèse-majesté law, which imposes sentences of up to 12 years in jail for insulting the king or his family.

Originally Posted by mobs00

Be careful what you say.......

Thai government bans Thaksin Shinawatra interview with The Times - Times Online

A spokesman for Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, warned journalists not to report the contents of the interview and hinted that the Government would use the country’s draconian lèse-majesté law, which imposes sentences of up to 12 years in jail for insulting the king or his family.

Lovely freedom of the press

He's gonna need the later pictures useful protection hints, if he wants ride out this fallout....

Even if the original article was taken out of context...it may still take some work...then again the Red army won't believe a word of it even if it was true....

These pathetic accusations of LM are really becoming a bore.

At some point they are going to have to face reality and realise that it will all be over soon.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Originally Posted by mobs00

Be careful what you say.......

Thai government bans Thaksin Shinawatra interview with The Times - Times Online

A spokesman for Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, warned journalists not to report the contents of the interview and hinted that the Government would use the country’s draconian lèse-majesté law, which imposes sentences of up to 12 years in jail for insulting the king or his family.

Lovely freedom of the press

Some of it was quoted in the Bangkok Hoax today.

That can't be right Da Torpedo got around 18 years not 12, just for making a speech.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

These pathetic accusations of LM are really becoming a bore.

At some point they are going to have to face reality and realise that it will all be over soon.

... that will only be the beginning.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

it will all be over soon.

Hope not

Originally Posted by zubber

looks like they played the les majeste card

No doubt they will not get him on that charge, being so slippery as he has proven himself to beurrules. But I do wonder why the British government did go to a great length to revoke his visa, after all he was once an investor, being an ex-owner of Manchester City. From the original buying price of 85 million pounds to the selling price of a reported 265 million pounds to the Arabs some two years later, smelled as fishy as a money laundering scheme.

Originally Posted by ramkarn

From the original buying price of 85 million pounds to the selling price of a reported 265 million pounds to the Arabs some two years later

Seems he will make a fine economic adviser.