Thaksin to seek political asylum in Britain
From correspondents in Bangkok
August 20, 2008 07:03pm
OUSTED Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will seek political asylum in Britain, claiming that he and his family are not safe in Thailand, his lawyer said today.
Thaksin, 59, and his wife Pojaman, 51, and their three adult children fled to London last week. Pojaman has been convicted of tax evasion, and they both face corruption charges in a property scandal.
"At this moment, Thaksin's legal team is proceeding to ask for political asylum for Thaksin and his family in Britain," said Watchara Seangprathum, one of Thaksin's Thai lawyers.
"His asylum request will note their malicious treatment in Thailand, where they lack security and freedom," Mr Watchara said.
Thaksin has accused the Thai courts of bias and said he feared his family could not receive a fair trial. The Supreme Court is trying Thaksin and Pojaman in absentia on corruption charges accusing him of using his political influence as premier to help his wife buy a plot of prime Bangkok real estate from the central bank at a bargain price.
They each face up to 13 years in prison if convicted. Since the case is before the Supreme Court, they would have no avenue of appeal.
Authorities have already frozen 76 billion baht ($2.3 billion) of Thaksin's assets pending resolution of the case.
Thousands of protesters on Tuesday paraded through central Bangkok to demand that Thaksin return home to face trial.
Mr Watchara said Thaksin had instructed his lawyers to file a defamation suit against the protest leaders for parading in a truck carrying a giant banner bearing photos of him and Pojaman and reading "Most Wanted".
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Thaksin To Seek Political Asylum In Britainclaims he and his family are not safe in Thailand
Started by fred2007, 2008-08-20 17:45
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127 replies to this topic
#2
Platinum Member Posted 2008-08-20 17:52:35
I sure hope England can cure this a..hole from filing lawsuits against anyone and everyone who disagrees or up sets him. I wonder who he hired when he was young to take care of disagreements with others?
#3
Dismembered Posted 2008-08-20 17:56:02
Hope UK does not agree - he's being prosecuted not persecuted!
#4
Advanced Member Posted 2008-08-20 18:23:00
Considering the UK has now implemented an extradition treaty with the US and a UK citizen has no protection in extradition to an American court, It will be diabolical if Thaksin gets granted asylum.
But the UK has become a rich mans paradise with lots of lovely tax avoidance loop holes in place - its just its own whom get sh6t on at a regular basis. #5
Senior Member Posted 2008-08-20 18:24:51
of course its approved he was the prime minister and thrown out in a military coup
#6
Advanced Member Posted 2008-08-20 18:25:45
of course its approved he was the prime minister and thrown out in a military coup What about his wife then? #7
Platinum Member Posted 2008-08-20 20:20:17
of course its approved he was the prime minister and thrown out in a military coup His wife has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Thai courts for a criminal offense. Can't see that being allowed by the UK government as grounds for asylum, "but I don't want to go to prison, please don't let them take me" sniff, sniff. Edited by 12DrinkMore, 2008-08-20 20:20:51. #8
Star Member Posted 2008-08-20 21:12:22
Thaksin to seek political asylum in Britain: lawyer
BANGKOK (AFP / 20-08-08) — Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will seek political asylum in Britain, claiming that he and his family are not safe in Thailand, his lawyer said Wednesday. Thaksin, 59, and his wife Pojaman, 51, and their three adult children fled to London last week. Pojaman has been convicted of tax evasion, and they both face corruption charges in a property scandal. "At this moment, Thaksin's legal team is proceeding to ask for political asylum for Thaksin and his family in Britain," said Watchara Seangprathum, one of Thaksin's Thai lawyers. "His asylum request will note their malicious treatment in Thailand, where they lack security and freedom," Watchara told reporters. Thaksin has accused the Thai courts of bias and said he feared his family could not receive a fair trail. The Supreme Court is trying Thaksin and Pojaman in absentia on corruption charges accusing him of using his political influence as premier to help his wife buy a plot of prime Bangkok real estate from the central bank at a bargain price. They each face up to 13 years in prison if convicted. Since the case is before the Supreme Court, they would have no avenue of appeal. Authorities have already frozen 76 billion baht (2.3 billion dollars) of Thaksin's assets pending resolution of the case. Thousands of protesters on Tuesday paraded through central Bangkok to demand that Thaksin return home to face trial. Watchara said Thaksin had instructed his lawyers to file a defamation suit against the protest leaders for parading in a truck carrying a giant banner bearing photos of him and Pojaman and reading "Most Wanted." #9
Star Member Posted 2008-08-20 21:41:29
Former Thai PM Thaksin to seek asylum in UK-lawyer
BANGKOK, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who skipped bail last week and flew to London, plans to seek political asylum in Britain, his lawyer said on Wednesday. "He is in the process of seeking asylum in Britain," Watchara Saengprathum, one of Thaksin's Thai lawyers, told reporters. Watchara did not specify what reason Thaksin would use for his asylum request, but he said a breach of his rights or liberty or threat to personal security could be used. The Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and his wife, Potjaman, and seized 13 million baht ($385,000) in bail bonds after he failed to appear in a corruption case last week. #10
Star Member Posted 2008-08-20 21:50:40
Former Thai PM to seek asylum
Lawyers for the former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, say he plans to seek political asylum in Britain. Thaksin and his wife, facing corruption charges at home, skipped bail last week and flew to London. The lawyers say Thaksin could use a breach of his rights or liberty or threat to personal security as reasons for seeking asylum. The Supreme Court has issued arrest warrants for Mr Thaksin and his wife, and seized $US 385,000 in bail bonds after he failed to appear in court. - Radio Australia / August 20, 2008 #11
Star Member Posted 2008-08-20 22:24:48
PAD's demonstration outside British embassy was very timely.
The UK will not be able to hush it under the carpet. #12
marquisatal member Posted 2008-08-20 22:30:22
The idiot doesn't feel safe, how about all the people that he had bumped off in the so called Drugs War, I wonder how safe they felt! I hope he is deported he is as much a persona non grata as a certain fallen celebrity how is here, and should be removed from England on grounds of outraging public morality.
#13
Senior Member Posted 2008-08-20 22:40:40
its pretty simple
once you have a military dictatorship you lose all creditability. plus, the thai government does not want him to return to Thailand anyways. #14
Titanium Member Posted 2008-08-20 23:08:27
its pretty simple once you have a military dictatorship you lose all creditability. plus, the thai government does not want him to return to Thailand anyways. Precisely that, whatever you think of Taksin it is undoubted that right now it is not a bad thing for Thailand that he is not in Thailand. It is also clear that a very solid case can be made that his prosecution is politically motivated, as such he almost certainly would be granted 'Political Asylum'. #15
Star Member Posted 2008-08-20 23:34:11
For someone and the entire brood whose stated reason is...
Quote Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will seek political asylum in Britain, claiming that he and his family are not safe IN THAILAND. he and his wife and his son and his daughter and his other daughter and his brother-in-law sure did manage to spend a lot of (for most of the clan, even a majority of) their time over the past 2 years... IN THAILAND. First, he insults the judiciary with his last letter... now he goes much deeper...he insults the entire nation with this request. Edited by sriracha john, 2008-08-20 23:44:57. #16
Advanced Member Posted 2008-08-21 00:01:06
...he insults the entire nation with this request. I have always wondered - how can a "nation" be insulted? It's like, somebody calls my car a rotten piece a shite, and it's supposed to feel emotional hurt somehow. Which, of course, the rotten piece of shite can't. Because it's a machine. 
#17
Senior Member Posted 2008-08-21 00:05:34
yeah everyone on the street seems real torn up about it
#18
Star Member Posted 2008-08-21 00:17:24
...he insults the entire nation with this request.
yeah everyone on the street seems real torn up about it 2 posts...one, same reply... give it time to sink in... #19
Titanium Member Posted 2008-08-21 00:25:05
Toxin is like a little boy with a ball. He's okay if he's winning the game, but when he loses possesion he cries foul and wants to take it home. Shame that the UK immigration weren't as stringet with Pokamon as the Thai authorities where with Glitter. Whilst there's difference in offences, there's no difference in culpability. It's about time Thailand opened up the box and investigated some of the other stuff that Toxin has been accused of, but it's probably unlikely, just as much as Thailand genuinely pushing for extradition.
#20
Super Member Posted 2008-08-21 00:34:30
its pretty simple once you have a military dictatorship you lose all creditability. plus, the thai government does not want him to return to Thailand anyways. Precisely that, whatever you think of Taksin it is undoubted that right now it is not a bad thing for Thailand that he is not in Thailand. It is also clear that a very solid case can be made that his prosecution is politically motivated, as such he almost certainly would be granted 'Political Asylum'. Excactly, I think he stands a fair chance of getting the asylum, even though I think it's not necessary, as I doubt that the UK will even consider sending both of them back to Thailand. marquess, on 2008-08-20 17:30:22, said: The idiot doesn't feel safe, how about all the people that he had bumped off in the so called Drugs War Yes true, that makes it all the more strange that there is no court case for this very act he commited (with apparently a very large percentage of Thai citizens agreeing). #21
Senior Member Posted 2008-08-21 00:38:00
marquess i could not of said it better myself ,you took the words right out of my mouth . He talks about not feeling safein Thailand lmao .Thats a joke comming from him .I hope we kick out and send him back asap .And that he rots in a thai jail , its funny my other half use to think the world of him.
As it was through one of his teaching reforms ,That helped my other half get in uni as she was one of the top students in her school.She did have a right go at me ,as i had never liked him .Now she cant stand him , and only today she was asking me how can he stay in your country .And it not send him back. Edited by deon, 2008-08-21 00:39:22. #22
Star Member Posted 2008-08-21 00:39:20
Toxin is like a little boy with a ball. He's okay if he's winning the game, but when he loses possesion he cries foul and wants to take it home. Shame that the UK immigration weren't as stringet with Pokamon as the Thai authorities where with Glitter. Whilst there's difference in offences, there's no difference in culpability. It's about time Thailand opened up the box and investigated some of the other stuff that Toxin has been accused of, but it's probably unlikely, just as much as Thailand genuinely pushing for extradition. Glitter, in a way, is better than Pokemon... he had served his assigned prison time (albeit inadequate) and when he departed Vietnam, he departed a free man (albeit undesireable)... whereas Pokemon has not served her assigned prison time and when she departed, she departs a wanted bail-jumping fugitive. #23
Advanced Member Posted 2008-08-21 02:30:22
...he insults the entire nation with this request.
yeah everyone on the street seems real torn up about it 2 posts...one, same reply... give it time to sink in... Guess i'm just too daft. It sinks and sinks, and i still don't get how a "nation" can be insulted. Why don't 'ya educate us all? #24
The JesterBkk Posted 2008-08-21 03:09:09
Guess i'm just too daft. It sinks and sinks, and i still don't get how a "nation" can be insulted. Why don't 'ya educate us all? |
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