JUNTA GETS TOUGH

Thaksin's passport revoked

Pojaman also loses diplomatic passport; CNS asks broadcast media not to report about him

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has had his travelling privileges curtailed, following calls for tougher action against him.

The junta also moved to stop him using the media to orchestrate political trouble.

The Foreign Ministry revoked the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and his wife Pojaman after an inquiry concluded he had engaged in political activities while in exile, a senior ministry official said yesterday.

The ministry has also instructed all its embassies not to facilitate Thaksin's travels and visits, said deputy spokesman Kiatthikhun Chartprasert.

Council for National Security (CNS) secretary-general Winai Phattiyakul, and assistants Saprang Kallayanamit and Anupong Paochinda, told some 50 editors of the broadcasting media in a meeting yesterday not to report Thaksin's activities.

CNS chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin yesterday lectured some 300 senior police officers, including police chief Kovit Wattana, about the CNS' new moves and stringent policies, especially in dealing with anticipated anti-coup movements. He instructed the police to be more active.

The move to revoke the deposed premier's diplomatic passport came after criticism of the junta that it was too lenient in dealing with Thaksin, allowing him to travel around the region to meet his supporters.

"Taking into consideration the appropriateness and security concern, the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and [his] wife have been revoked since December 31, 2006," Kiatthikhun said.

Thaksin, however, is permitted to to carry an ordinary Thai passport that will enable him to travel abroad but without the privileges of the diplomatic one with the red cover.

On Tuesday, the ministry instructed the Thai consulate in Hong Kong and the Thai Embassy in London to notify the Shinawatras of the decision.

With the exception of Asean members, a number of countries require a pre-approved visa for Thai passport holders.

The issue of revoking Thaksin's passport cropped up almost immediately after he was ousted by the September 19 coup.

Thaksin has been visiting a number of neighbouring countries, including China, Japan and Indonesia, as well as Hong Kong, where he was believed to have met some of his close aides.

Suspicions that he was plotting a political comeback rapidly surfaced and kicked off a debate among coup leaders, diplomats and senior officials.

The Foreign Ministry has consistently downplayed the demand on the grounds that all former prime ministers and foreign ministers were permitted to hold on to their diplomatic passports for life.

The junta accused Thaksin of orchestrating what they called an "undercurrent" to create trouble for the people in the power.

The issue became public when Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri informed the National Legislative Assembly in a closed session that the ministry had already terminated the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and his wife.

On November 16, the ministry revoked the diplomatic passports of Panthongtae and Pinthongtha, Thaksin's first two children. Youngest daughter Paethongtarn diplomatic passport expired earlier and was not extended.

Thaksin yesterday let it be known he would not only stop all political activity but would also offer the junta his assistance to facilitate trade with foreign businesses for the Kingdom while he was abroad.

Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation

OUSTED PM

Beijing faces Thaksin dilemma

Govt tells China ex-PM has lost his diplomatic status

Beijing was put on the spot yesterday as the Thai government conveyed its decision to revoke the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and Pojaman Shinawatra, implying that the deposed prime minister and his wife would need to request a visa to extend their stay in China.

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibul-songgram relayed the message to his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

Li told Nitya that Beijing "more than understands" the situation, said a Thai official.

But it remained unclear how the Chinese government would treat a visa application from Thaksin, who has stayed in China for some time since being toppled and has reportedly bought a condominium in Beijing.

Thaksin was in Hong Kong yesterday and plans to fly to Singapore for an extended stay, as the city-state is an Asean member and waives entry visas for Thai citizens, said a source.

Thaksin was seen having a meeting with close aide Yongyuth Tiyapairat in a Hong Kong hotel, the source added.

The government on Wednesday revoked Thaksin and his wife's "red cover", because it deemed that his activities abroad were politically motivated to destabilise the junta and government.

The revocation of the diplomatic passports, the holder of which is entitled to enter 50 countries without a visa, means Thaksin will now have to apply for entry visas to visit most foreign countries.

A source familiar with Chinese diplomatic circles told The Nation that Bangkok had never informed Beijing of how they would like the Chinese government to deal with Thaksin's alleged political activities.

Unless there is a request from the Thai government, Beijing will continue to treat Thaksin as "an old friend", said the diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A Thai businessman who ran into Thaksin in Beijing last month said the deposed premier was being assisted by Thai Embassy staff during his visit to the Chinese capital.

The government on Wednesday also prohibited all Thai embassies from providing Thaksin with VIP treatment and ordered that he be treated as an ordinary Thai national living abroad.

Thaksin yesterday hit back at the government decision, saying sarcastically that he hoped his citizen's identity card would not be revoked as well.

His legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, said Thaksin was surprised to learn that his red-cover passport had been terminated over allegations that he had engaged in political activities to destabilise the junta and military-installed government.

"Revoking the passport of a former prime minister is a move to destroy the confidence and credibility of the Kingdom as a whole," said Noppadon, adding that this was "not the way to make national reconciliation".

Officials at the Foreign Ministry must take responsibility if it is found in the future that the decision was groundless, he added.

The Nation

Thaksin's S'pore meet 'unofficial'

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said yesterday that the planned meeting between former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Singapore's deputy premier S Jayakumar in the island republic is understood to be "unofficial".

Speaking from Cebu, the Philippines where the Asean Summit is taking place, Nit said Thai premier Gen Surayud Chulanont was also informed of the matter by Singaporean authorities.

Thaksin is understood to have arrived in Singapore Friday. He reportedly will stay in the island republic until Tuesday.