Thaksin cannot return for at least a year: Surayud

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Sunday that he would not allowed his predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand for at least a year.

He said Thaksin should wait until a new government is elected in a year before returning to Thailand.

"The best way is that Thaksin should wait until the problems have been solved during the year ahead. When there is an election and a new government, it will be a proper time [for Thaksin to return to Thailand], Surayud said.

Surayud said it was inappropriate to allow Thaksin to return and put him under a house arrest as suggested by former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyud as doing so would be similar to an action of the Burmese military government.

The Nation

Thai PM Surayud: No plan to revoke Thaksin's diplomatic passport

BANGKOK, Nov 15 (TNA) - Thailand's interim government has no plans to revoke ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's diplomatic passport, said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Wednesday, affirming that the ex-premier has full rights to travel.

It was Thailand's custom to honour him with the passport when he was prime minister of the country, Prime Minister Surayud said, and it is normal practice that a person can hold only one passport.

When asked if the diplomatic passport could be used only in normal times, but Mr. Thaksin was ousted through a coup, Gen. Surayud said he thought there was an answer in itself and "we must (continue to)honour him as long as he doesn't commit anything dishonourable."

The prime minister's remarks were made after Wednesday's press reports displayed a picture of Mr. Thaksin and his wife strolling hand-in-hand in a Hong Kong shopping mall on Monday.

The deposed premier reportedly told a group of reporters there that he had no plans to return home and that he would travel to Bali today, but did not say what he planned to do there.

Mr. Thaksin first stayed in London with his family, where he owns an apartment, after being deposed by a military coup on September 19. He later travelled to China amid reports that he might secretly return to the
country via land from that country or Myanmar.

The rumours were repeatedly dismissed by his legal advisors, and close aides who argued that the former premier will return to homeland in a dignified manner at appropriate time.

Gen. Surayud has said that Mr. Thaksin should not return to Thailand until after the constitution was drafted and general elections have been held, scheduled for a year from now.

TNA