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January 11, 2007
Thai Junta Revokes Ousted Prime Minister€™s Diplomatic Passport
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
BANGKOK, Jan. 10 €” The junta that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand nearly four months ago revoked his diplomatic passport on Wednesday and ordered broadcasters not to report his statements.
The military leaders threatened to close broadcasters that reported statements from Mr. Thaksin made through his Bangkok lawyer, Noppadon Patama, accusing the ousted leader of engaging in a €œmedia war.€
Mr. Thaksin was out of the country when the coup took place and has not returned. But the junta suspects that his supporters are behind recent bombings and other unrest.
Gen. Winai Phathiyakul, the junta€™s secretary general, met with radio and television executives early Wednesday to €œrequest cooperation€ in not covering news about Mr. Thaksin released through Mr. Noppadon.
General Winai told broadcasters to €œexercise extreme caution when presenting reports concerning former Prime Minister Thaksin,€ a junta spokeswoman said. €œHe should not create confusion by engaging in a media war€ with the junta, she said.
The junta also reminded broadcasters that Thailand was under martial law and that one of its first orders after toppling Mr. Thaksin€™s government in September allowed the generals to close news outlets that failed to comply, she added.
The Foreign Ministry said it had revoked Mr. Thaksin€™s diplomatic passport because of heightened security concerns after deadly bombings in Bangkok that killed three people and wounded dozens on Dec. 31.
€œThe revocation is already effective, and Thaksin has already been notified,€ said a ministry spokesman, Songphol Sukchan. The diplomatic passport for Mr. Thaksin€™s wife was also revoked, but the spokesman said that the couple could apply for regular passports.
Mr. Thaksin, a billionaire businessman, was in New York when the military toppled his government.
Thailand€™s military-installed government has accused factions loyal to Mr. Thaksin of masterminding eight coordinated bomb attacks in Bangkok on New Year€™s Eve. He has denied any involvement.
The junta on Wednesday also warned news organizations against giving too much coverage to figures in Thai Rak Thai, the political party founded by Mr. Thaksin.
The military council €œcan accept criticism from the public but not from the ousted government figures who have abused power,€ said a junta spokesman, Col. Sunsern Kaewkamnerd.
Mr. Noppadon said at a news conference on Wednesday that he had just met with Mr. Thaksin in Hong Kong , and that he said he had no intention of returning to politics.
€œThaksin wants this year to be a year of reconciliation,€ he said. €œThaksin said he will not do anything or support any group acting against the stability of the government. He has said he has no intention of coming back as prime minister. He will not run in the next general election.€
Also on Wednesday, Mr. Thaksin€™s son, Panthongtae Shinawatra, was questioned by an anticorruption panel in Bangkok over his sale of shares in the Shin Corporation, his father€™s telecom giant.
Mr. Thaksin€™s family sold its 49 percent stake in Shin to Temasek for $1.9 billion under a tax-free deal in January, setting off months of street protests accusing Mr. Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power.
Sak Kosaengreung, a member of the anticorruption panel, the Asset Scrutinizing Committee, said the hearing went smoothly.
Thai Junta Revokes Ousted Prime Minister€™s Diplomatic Passport
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
BANGKOK, Jan. 10 €” The junta that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand nearly four months ago revoked his diplomatic passport on Wednesday and ordered broadcasters not to report his statements.
The military leaders threatened to close broadcasters that reported statements from Mr. Thaksin made through his Bangkok lawyer, Noppadon Patama, accusing the ousted leader of engaging in a €œmedia war.€
Mr. Thaksin was out of the country when the coup took place and has not returned. But the junta suspects that his supporters are behind recent bombings and other unrest.
Gen. Winai Phathiyakul, the junta€™s secretary general, met with radio and television executives early Wednesday to €œrequest cooperation€ in not covering news about Mr. Thaksin released through Mr. Noppadon.
General Winai told broadcasters to €œexercise extreme caution when presenting reports concerning former Prime Minister Thaksin,€ a junta spokeswoman said. €œHe should not create confusion by engaging in a media war€ with the junta, she said.
The junta also reminded broadcasters that Thailand was under martial law and that one of its first orders after toppling Mr. Thaksin€™s government in September allowed the generals to close news outlets that failed to comply, she added.
The Foreign Ministry said it had revoked Mr. Thaksin€™s diplomatic passport because of heightened security concerns after deadly bombings in Bangkok that killed three people and wounded dozens on Dec. 31.
€œThe revocation is already effective, and Thaksin has already been notified,€ said a ministry spokesman, Songphol Sukchan. The diplomatic passport for Mr. Thaksin€™s wife was also revoked, but the spokesman said that the couple could apply for regular passports.
Mr. Thaksin, a billionaire businessman, was in New York when the military toppled his government.
Thailand€™s military-installed government has accused factions loyal to Mr. Thaksin of masterminding eight coordinated bomb attacks in Bangkok on New Year€™s Eve. He has denied any involvement.
The junta on Wednesday also warned news organizations against giving too much coverage to figures in Thai Rak Thai, the political party founded by Mr. Thaksin.
The military council €œcan accept criticism from the public but not from the ousted government figures who have abused power,€ said a junta spokesman, Col. Sunsern Kaewkamnerd.
Mr. Noppadon said at a news conference on Wednesday that he had just met with Mr. Thaksin in Hong Kong , and that he said he had no intention of returning to politics.
€œThaksin wants this year to be a year of reconciliation,€ he said. €œThaksin said he will not do anything or support any group acting against the stability of the government. He has said he has no intention of coming back as prime minister. He will not run in the next general election.€
Also on Wednesday, Mr. Thaksin€™s son, Panthongtae Shinawatra, was questioned by an anticorruption panel in Bangkok over his sale of shares in the Shin Corporation, his father€™s telecom giant.
Mr. Thaksin€™s family sold its 49 percent stake in Shin to Temasek for $1.9 billion under a tax-free deal in January, setting off months of street protests accusing Mr. Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power.
Sak Kosaengreung, a member of the anticorruption panel, the Asset Scrutinizing Committee, said the hearing went smoothly.
In my opinion Australia will pay diplomaticly if they allow him to stay.The Jaunta got stuck into Singapore and they will more then likley do the same to us. 
There are alot of Thai officials who were against Thaksin siging the free trade agreament with Australia and this may be the excsue they are looking for to dump it . 
I export low alleregn pig meat to Thailand for sale mainly through Tesco and the Phillipines and i also have a Visa advisory contract with the Australian government.My advise from DFAT has been to defer any further Business Visa aplications and advsiement contracts untill March 12. I have know idea what the March 12 signifcance is 
Well I will give him that point. 
Asked about his futire , he said"politics never again in my life" Well he didn't rule out making a come back in another life and that my friends is politics and another reason why i don't trust the cunts. 
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