Political Asylum Seeker Thaksin: No More Passport, No More Homeland, No More Excuses
Just about when the wheels of justice start working in Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand deposed nearly two years ago by a bloodless coup, pretends there’s no justice for him and his family in the Thai homeland.
Blaming security threats to him and his family, Thaksin said in a statement released on August 11th that he and his wife Pojaman and tree children are in Britain and will not return to Thailand to fight corruption charges, citing “unfair” political interference in the justice system.
The Thai stock market surged enthusiastically, as Thaksin’s departure for good may finally mark the long promised end of Thaksin’s political interferences. As he has to blame judges that were already in office when he was in office. Thaksin’s days of manipulating and influencing institutions are over. For now.
“My wife and I will stay in England where democracy is more important,” the 59-year-old former premier said in a hand-written statement released to the media, while the Thai Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for the two.
Where democracy is more important. Says the man who some months ago welcomed Thailand’s return to democracy.
Today the disgraced leader is using the same language against Thailand’s democracy as he had used against Thailand’s military junta.
A victim of his own practices. Expecting political asylum for the Burma loan?
There are many sides to Thaksin’s extremely square face.
“I expected everything would be better,” Thaksin said in the statement, “that I might have a chance to prove my innocence and receive a fair trial when I returned to Thailand. But the situation became worse.”
Thaksin’s facing some selective justice? Maybe. For the better of the nation.
Was his fleeing (that amounts to an admission of guilt) facilitated by some backroom deal? Maybe. So be it, if it’s the only honorable way out.
Since Monday August 11th Thaksin and wife Pojaman are hunted by Thai arrest warrants. Will Thailand eagerly seek the extradition? Hardly, given the fact that the Supreme Court let them leave the country, even though Pojaman was duly convicted.
Nevertheless a very grave price to pay for the sake of more justice, security & democracy, to speak in Thaksin’s own words.
According to an observer commenting on absolutely though it was feared in Thailand that Thaksin was about to “create havoc i.e. to get the two groups to fight; then he could claim political refugee status which gives him more status.”
Today a de facto fugitive with (soon) no more Thai passport, expect new other worries to keep the man busy who once ruled the kingdom at will, neither fearing nor respecting any institution.
As a convicted fellow he’ll have to – according to the Premier League’s Fit And Proper Persons Test FAPPT – sell his Manchester City Football Club (thanks for the link Thad).
While Thaksin’s loyal lieutenants back home will have to fight to get the frozen 69 billion baht back.
With Thaksin gone we’ll maybe see the beginnings of the healing of the deep divisions in Thai society. The PAD and Democrats for themselves have no more bogeyman to blame for everything, as New Mandala reports.
The kingdom is on its own again.
Thaksin may not even be granted a dearest last wish anymore, to some day live and die on Thai soil.
I share the current enthusiasm … even though Thaksin is talented and much, much more smarter than the pathetic Thai generals and other Thai “elite” but he was clearly corrupted.
However, I think we should not use the stamp “case closed” too soon.
My point: Thaksin is in exile … again.
He was in exile from September 2006 (when ousted by the military coup) to the end of February 2008 …
That didn’t prevent the political situation to worsen.
With popular support, political support (the PPP), huge financial means, and now -I guess- a burning rage against the “invisible hand” responsible for his faith … Thaksin will remain a serious liability.
My point: Now the situation is clearer, it’s impossible to foresee any “reconciliation.” It’s a fight to death.
I don’t believe that Thaksin will give up. Never.
And I would like to add that time is playing in favor of Thaksin … The succession issue is not settled … Far from it.
Thaksin is still young …
Points taken ThaiCrisis, you raise important issues.
I rather think though that it has become too risky for his lieutenants to associate/deal with Thaksin.
He’ll be dropped over time.
A future without Thaksin looks suddenly more promising than with him.
They can play the Thaksin-card from afar and benefit, without having to involve him.
As said by Thaksin, and he’s not making that up: Thailand has become a dangerous place for him.
I guess he’s not only facing the dangers of enemies.
BangkokDan
Those frozen Thaksin billions – $2.0 billion or so (depending on exchange rates) won’t be easily forgotten … and getting them unfrozen would be paramount in Thaksin’s mind. (The man thinks he’s still Thailand’s most loved leader and the man must still think those billions are his, legally or otherwise). Not for democracy, not even to re-defend the Thai poor. Not for the rule of law nor fair justice.
This time this will be all about recovering the loot for Thaksin!
Thaksin will continue to wheel and deal, will threaten and will cajole, will bribe and promise commissions galore … anything to get the Thaksin billions back!
What would Thaksin be willing to pay a Thai general, any general, to get his billions back? 25%????
Could the next Thai coup be more sympathethic to Thaksin?
Interesting matty, a “next Thai coup more sympathetic to Thaksin.”
Such a coup though would imperatively lead to heavy bloodshed.
I doubt though that the Thaksin, hero of the poor, wants to go down in history as the man willing to sacrifice his own people.
A Thaksin reinstalled by a coup would have to rule by loyalty by force.
Bangkok people would never accept this. They’d be willing to fight.
Thaksin’s too much of a divider. He can’t unify the kingdom anymore. Not today, not tomorrow.
He’s history.
Why is none of his stalwarts publicly pledging loyalty to Thaksin – when Thaksin is facing the probably most difficult day of his life?
To be associated with Thaksin has become too risky.
He’s gone. Others will try to get their hands on his money and share the loot.
BangkokDan
Its all because of those “tree children”!
i and our colleagues love thaksin, he and his family are good people. I guarantee with my reputation. We all included millions of Thai people miss him so much. We will wait to see him forever. We hate insurgent.. we hate coup. Goddam army. Bullchit
Hmm … There’s a good laugh …
Since when people who evade taxes are considered as good people?
Yes I agree with phomuing.
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