Noppadon:Thaksin not after asylum

Published: 10/07/2009 at 11:43 AM
Online news: Local News

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is not touring the Pacific islands seeking political asylum in exchange for a rumoured US$300 million investment package, Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said on Friday.

Mr Noppadon said Thaksin had phoned him in the morning and told him that he had met Fijian Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama earlier this week to discuss small investment projects, not a US$300 million investment project as speculated.

"Thaksin insisted that he has no plan to seek political asylum since he could have applied for political asylum in Britain but decided to withdraw later," the ex-foreign minister said.

"Thaksin has returned to Dubai and is not in Tonga. He was only meeting world leaders and gathering investment information during his recent trip."

He said it would not be possible for the ousted premier to use false names while travelling overseas since he was well recognised all over the world, and people asked for his autograph everywhere he went.

The Thai government had failed to extradite Thaksin because other countries did not want to cooperate with a government that gave false information, he said.

The government might now be planning government-to-government negotiations to bring back the former prime minister to Thailand since it had not received cooperation from Interpol and other countries, Mr Noppadon said.

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ke

Discussion 5 : 10/07/2009 at 04:33 PM5
It sounds good for the explanation of Mr Pattama. Providing false information and/or trying to falsify the information will bring bad image to the country...!
Max Neo

Discussion 4 : 10/07/2009 at 03:38 PM4
I bet Abhisit gov't would not want to bring Thaksin back to the country. They're just playing game - Tom and Jerry.
supattana

Discussion 3 : 10/07/2009 at 03:24 PM3
"Thaksin has returned to Dubai and is not in Tonga. He was only meeting world leaders and gathering investment information during his recent trip." Isn't he on the run since UAE is putting a squeeze on him? As a legal adviser,you only speaks under his instructions nothing more or less. Hope you are getting paid for your services.
Love country?

Discussion 2 : 10/07/2009 at 03:05 PM2
Kasit is set to keep on an eye on Thaksin...
Why a business man who sucess in leading country is guilty? why a person who enjoy ambush 2 international airports made this sector lost huge money become Foreign Minister and a person who support behide become current Prime Minister?.... It's sound funny.... WHAT KIND OF THEIR LOVE TO THIS COUNTRY?....
boon

Discussion 1 : 10/07/2009 at 12:07 PM1
Thaksin and the illegally banned TRT politicians and TRT government should consider forming a government in exile. Hope it is still possible. This is to send a strong signal that rule of law and going by the rule of law must prevail. Not through military coup or any unconstitutional means to oust a people elected government. Allegation of abused of power and corruption should be dealt with by the rule of law and it is a individual allegation not a whole government.

Noppadon:Thaksin not after asylum