Thailand reissues Thaksin's passport
Source: Agencies |
December 17, 2011, Saturday
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THAILAND has reissued a passport to exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the foreign ministry said yesterday, the latest move by the government led by his sister in support of the country's most famous fugitive.
Thaksin, who lives in Dubai and is on the run from a two-year prison sentence for abuse of power, was no longer considered a danger to Thailand and a passport was sent six weeks ago to the Thai Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said in Bangkok.
A legal article that had been invoked by the previous government to rescind Thaksin's passport two years ago had been overturned by Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul, he added.
"Given the change in government and circumstances, the foreign ministry used the same article ... and no longer considers him a threat to the country," Thani said. "Mr Thaksin applied for a passport on October 25 and a passport was issued later that month."
Thaksin's supporters are keen for his return and he has said he wants to go back but he would face arrest upon arrival.
The decision to reissue Thaksin's Thai passport is largely symbolic since he has traveled with ease over the past two years on passports issued by Nicaragua and Montenegro.
The twice-elected tycoon was aggressively hunted by the previous government, but his fortunes changed in July when a party stacked with his allies and led by his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was swept to power in an election landslide.
But Thaksin remains a divisive figure in the country with powerful enemies among Thailand's military and conservative elite.
Thaksin, who lives in Dubai and is on the run from a two-year prison sentence for abuse of power, was no longer considered a danger to Thailand and a passport was sent six weeks ago to the Thai Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said in Bangkok.
A legal article that had been invoked by the previous government to rescind Thaksin's passport two years ago had been overturned by Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul, he added.
"Given the change in government and circumstances, the foreign ministry used the same article ... and no longer considers him a threat to the country," Thani said. "Mr Thaksin applied for a passport on October 25 and a passport was issued later that month."
Thaksin's supporters are keen for his return and he has said he wants to go back but he would face arrest upon arrival.
The decision to reissue Thaksin's Thai passport is largely symbolic since he has traveled with ease over the past two years on passports issued by Nicaragua and Montenegro.
The twice-elected tycoon was aggressively hunted by the previous government, but his fortunes changed in July when a party stacked with his allies and led by his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was swept to power in an election landslide.
But Thaksin remains a divisive figure in the country with powerful enemies among Thailand's military and conservative elite.
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