April 28, 2009
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
The government is taking every possible step to narrow the political space fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's has on the globe by using the Interpol and other diplomatic moves to corner him, a senior government official said yesterday.
Thaksin might be able to stay in Dubai, but United Arab Emirates will not allow him to use the gulf state as a launching PAD against the Thai government, said Vice Foreign Minister Panich Vikitsreth.
"The UAE government has told us that Thaksin could not use the country as his political base, but could return as an investor," Panich said in an interview yesterday.
The UAE and Thailand are preparing an extradition treaty, he said, adding that Abu Dhabi had already sent a draft for consideration.
Asked if the government was aware of the movements being made by some former executives of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party to meet Thaksin in Dubai, Panich said nobody could be barred from travelling abroad or meeting anybody.
"We don't know where they are going and for what purpose, but they have the right because they are only banned from politics, not travel," Panich explained.
Two weeks ago, the government told Interpol to blacklist Thaksin and arrest him if they can, he said.
Thai authorities have also sent arrest warrants against Thaksin to all concerned countries, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministry has informed all nations that have diplomatic relations with Thailand about Thaksin's movements and the government's concerns, he said.
Even though Thaksin's Thai passports, both diplomatic and ordinary, were revoked the former premier continues moving around with foreign travel documents. Reports have confirmed that Thaksin is holding a Nicaraguan passport and has been made special ambassador by President Daniel Ortega.
He was also said to have landed in Liberia last week with Montenegro passport and unconfirmed reports say he might also have a Cambodian passport. Since the foreign ministry has no clear information about Thaksin's Cambodian passport, it could not take any action on the issue, Panich said.
However, he added, Phnom Penh as already been told about the government's concerns over Thaksin's political movements. "We are being very careful with the matter because relations with Cambodia are very sensitive," he said.
However, Panich said, what passport Thaksin travels with is not important. He explained that as long as the former PM uses his own name, his appearance in any country would show up on Interpol's radar and he will be under surveillance in host countries.
The government is closely monitoring Jakrapob Penkair's movements, though his whereabouts are still unknown, Panich said. The Immigration Bureau has no records on Jakrapob's departure, he said.
Jakrapob, a former spokesman for Thaksin, was charged of lese majeste and freed on bail.
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