Thread: Brits Bitch-slap Toxic and Tow

ASYLUM SETBACK
UK cancels visas of Thaksin, wife
By The Nation
Published on November 8, 2008

The British Embassy has revoked entry visas of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman.


UK cancels visas of Thaksin, wife

The cancellation, which was decided while the couple were outside England, has been notified to airlines yesterday.

The decision was made by the United Kingdom Border Agency, and the notification email was signed by Bangkok-based Immigration Liaison Manager Andy Gray.

The email read:

"Dear All,

The United Kingdom Border Agency has revoked the UK visas held by the following Thai nations:

Thaksin Shinawatra. Thai Passport Number D215863

Potjaman Shinawatra. Thai Passport Number D206635

The UK visas contained in the passports of the individuals listed above are no longer valid for travel.

Airlines are advised not to carry these passengers to the UK"


The embassy would not comment on the report. Contacted embassy officials said they "cannot comment on policy matters."

It was a big political blow for Thaksin, who was believed to be on his way from China to the Philippines yesterday. It was understood that the cancellation had to do with the recent court rulings that found Pojaman guilty of tax evasion and Thaksin guilty of breaking the conflict of interest law in the Ratchadapisek land purchase scandal.

Their children's British visas are still valid.

A senior People Power Party politician who has been in China this week answered The Nation's phone contact but replied to the inquiry about Thaksin's visa situation with only "I don't know. I don't know."

Thaksin has always described England as a "democratically mature" country as compared to Thailand. But he always denied having applied for asylum although he said England would be the country where he wanted to live in exile.

Last Saturday, in a controversial long-distance phone-in from Hong Kong, Thaksin accused his political opponents of breaking his family apart. In the same address, he also begged for royal pardon or a popular show of force to bring him back to Thailand.

"Nobody can bring me back to Thailand, except royal kindness of HM the King or the power of the people," Thaksin said. He also claimed that many countries have offered him "honorary citizenship", "which made me a bit sad because I could do many things for anybody else in the world, but nothing now for my country."

The statement triggered a major controversy in Thailand, with Thaksin being accused of trying to drag HM the King into politics. The UK visa move, however, gave Thaksin's statement a whole new perspective, making him sound more like someone desperate to find refuge rather than trying to provoke a political reaction.

It is not immediately known, however, whether Thaksin was aware of the impending visa cancellation before he left England the last time.

A source familiar with the UK legal and diplomatic thinking said the cancellation could have been based on "the different statuses" of Thaksin between the time he was issued the visa and now.

The Supreme Court only found Thaksin guilty in the Ratchadapisek land case late last month, weeks after he fled Thailand during the Beijing Olympics. He fled with his wife, who only days earlier had been found guilty of tax evasion.

England has been under the world community's watchful eyes when Thaksin is concerned. Diplomatic observers have said a decision whether or not to give Thaksin asylum would generate strong ramifications on England's relations with Thailand, as well as London's reputations when democracy, foreign relations and legal principles are concerned.

Thailand politics,news analysis,The People's Alliance for Democracy

Two good news stories in three days. I can't believe it!

He will find somewhere else to run to.

China! He could do a ROOTS thing.

So how come his brats can still live in blighty?

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

He will find somewhere else to run to.

This is not new news. Just in case ya never read it ...

Small, poor countries trying to woo Thaksin's money
By KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI
THE NATION
Published on November 5, 2008

At least five countries in the Atlantic and in Africa have reportedly offered asylum and advisory positions to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra while living in exile. However, the attempts of these small countries are not seen having much political implication in the international arena.


Chulalongkorn University's international relations expert Panithan Wattanayakorn said the offers from small countries might be the result of Thaksin's reputation of boosting the economy while he was in the post and in his business success. However, he owes big thank to his gifts and planning to create a good image of himself.

The small countries might also think of possibly getting investment from Thaksin family's companies. Just a small amount of investment could be worth much to their economies, he said.

However, the positive gestures of those countries could not guarantee that they would actually help Thaksin eventually. Big countries especially those having close relationship with Thailand would not likely favour Thaksin who was convicted of a criminal charge. Meanwhile, small countries would have to consider carefully as they must think about the international eyes too, he said.

When the Thai court translates and publicises cases related to Thaksin, other countries should understand more, he said.

Thaksin was sentenced to a two-year jail term related to the Ratchadaphisek land case. The pressure on the government to bring Thaksin back to receive the penalty as well as revoke his diplomatic passport rose.

However, local media publicised African nations planning to offer help to Thaksin. Central African Republic's advisory committee proposed inviting Thaksin to chair its anti-poverty project, as well as to be an advisor on government system reform.

The Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world and among the ten poorest countries in Africa.

Meanwhile, the Bahamas prime minister who was earlier reported by the media to have sought (ways) to offer Thaksin honorary citizenship, has also declared to help Thaksin in every way. It would oppose if the UK would force Thaksin to return to Thailand.

Thaksin mentioned about such countries' offers during his overseas address to the Thai public in the pro-government rally on Saturday.

Republic of Chad and Togolese Republic, both in Africa, also sought Thaksin's help in overcoming drought and poverty.

Republic of Bolivia in South America reportedly planned to give royal decoration to Thaksin for his success in solving economic problems.

Former foreign minister and former Thaksin's spokesman Noppadon Pattama said Thaksin would have chances to make his talents useful to human beings. Those countries might have good relationship and respect for Thaksin since he was the prime minister. However, his status in the international arena would not be changed by the (small nations') acceptance.

"Thaksin told me he was physically happy but not mentally. He contributed to the country but look at what he gets in return," Noppadon said.

The Bermuda Islands, a 53.3 square-kilometre British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic, was the first to offer Thaksin refuge after he fled Thailand in August. Its prime minister, said he was content to help Thaksin because his family used to face injustice of the legal system before. The Bahamas, a former British colony, followed.

The Nation

I like the way they cancelled the visas while they were both out of the country.

Seems a bit crafty and underhanded way of doing it and a bit, dare I say it, "Thai style"

Well, thats UKs problem solved.
Shut the door while hes outside the country and game over.

It does smell of being a little bit sneaky and underhanded though.

I can't help to think it was his phone-calling from the UK that turned the tide on whatever undecided thoughts they had about him. Damn I would like to have been a fly on the wall when the border agents sized up the situation.

Originally Posted by Porridge

So how come his brats can still live in blighty?

Probably on student visas.

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

China! He could do a ROOTS thing.

He's Lao....

I can't help but snigger and rub my hands in glee.

If ever a man deserved what he's getting, it's ol' square-head Toxin.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

China! He could do a ROOTS thing.

He's Lao....

Jolly well hope he's not... sod him & his cow...

Where will the kunt surface next ?

Originally Posted by HungryHeart

Where will the kunt surface next ?

I believe there might be a site or blog that does just that. www.trackingtoxin.com

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

I can't help to think it was his phone-calling from the UK that turned the tide on whatever undecided thoughts they had about him. Damn I would like to have been a fly on the wall when the border agents sized up the situation.

If he had kept his head down and out of Thai politics he would probably have been OK - soon as he involved himself he was a liability.

Bet he wishes he never sold City - that would have made it harder to implement a ban

I believe there might be a site or blog that does just that. www.trackingtoxin.com

anyone open this ?

open dns don't know of it

I just hope that in true 'Thai Style', the immigration here don't get extra tough on Brits as a revenge. His brother inlaw could quite easily amend the immigration laws!

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

China! He could do a ROOTS thing.

He's Lao....

BS! ....

Originally Posted by arunah

I just hope that in true 'Thai Style', the immigration here don't get extra tough on Brits as a revenge. His brother inlaw could quite easily amend the immigration laws!

But next weeks prime minister might give us all free citizenship

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by arunah

I just hope that in true 'Thai Style', the immigration here don't get extra tough on Brits as a revenge. His brother inlaw could quite easily amend the immigration laws!

But next weeks prime minister might give us all free citizenship

Here's hoping

I agree with Raffles, using UK as a sanctuary whether or not he applied for asylum, the brighter move is to maintain a low profile and certainly not get involved in politics.

Had the UK eventually offered him asylum, one of the conditions would be that he keeps his nose well clear of politics. It is not the purpose of asylum, or in his case leave to stay, to provide a safe place from which he can rattle cages back home.

No matter how wealthy he is, seems he still needs to learn that the world is far larger, more advanced and sophisticated than Thailand, leaving that much less he can get away with.

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

I can't help to think it was his phone-calling from the UK that turned the tide on whatever undecided thoughts they had about him. Damn I would like to have been a fly on the wall when the border agents sized up the situation.

He called from Hong Kong.