Thaksin gets his visa | Bangkok Post: learning

General news

The change in government here in Thailand is making travel easier for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He now has a visa to go to Japan.

Click button to listen to Thaksin to Japan and rightclick to download

Govt clears way for Thaksin to go to Japan

Japan decided to issue an entry visa to deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra after the Pheu Thai-led government told Tokyo it no longer wished to restrict his overseas travel.

Thaksin was unable to enter Japan during the previous Abhisit Vejjajiva government because the Japanese government wanted to maintain close ties. Japan then strictly adhered to its law preventing the entry of a person who has been found guilty and given a jail term of more than one year.

But exceptions to this law can be granted by the Japanese justice minister if special circumstances are recognised.

A highly placed source from the Japanese foreign ministry yesterday said the decision to issue a visa to Thaksin was made at a joint meeting of the Japanese foreign ministry and Japanese justice ministry.

The decision was made after Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul informed the Japanese government through the Japanese embassy in Bangkok that the Yingluck Shinawatra government has no intention of restricting Thaksin's freedom to travel, the source said.

The same source said the Japanese government had always taken into account the Thai government's position on Thaksin when considering issuing a visa to him.

The Japanese government would not allow him entry if granting a visa led to political conflict in Thailand.

Thaksin will not visit Japan as a government representative but will give a lecture at a private university and visit people affected by the devastating tsunami in March, the source said.

Mr Surapong admitted he asked the Japanese government through the ambassador to Thailand to do him a favour by granting an entry visa to Thaksin as he believed that every legal case against Thaksin was politically motivated. However, he added that he would not do this with other countries Thaksin wanted to travel to.

Mr Surapong also said the Foreign Ministry has not made preparations to re-issue Thaksin with a diplomatic Thai passport. If this matter was raised for consideration in the future he would adhere strictly to justice and righteousness as well as the Foreign Ministry's traditional line of practice.

Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's close aide and legal adviser, said that Thaksin is scheduled to arrive in Japan next Monday. On Aug 23, Thaksin will give an interview to foreign reporters on "Democracy in Thailand" at the foreign correspondents club.

Later the same day Thaksin will deliver a speech to a forum of businessmen organised by the Japan-China-Asean Institute of Economy.

On Aug 24 he will give an address at Tama University on the earthquake and tsunami before visiting tsunami-hit sites on Aug 25-26.

Mr Noppadon said Thaksin would be using his Montenegro passport on his visit to Japan.

issue – to officially give out  ออก
deposed – forced from a position of power ที่ถูกปลด ไล่ออกจากตำแหน่ง
restrict – to limit จำกัด
ties – relations; connections ความสัมพันธ์
strict – very careful and exact เข้มงวด
adhere to – to obey a rule, law, agreement, etc. ทำตามกฎหมาย  ทำตามข้อตกลง
find guilty – to prove in a court of law that someone has committed a crime พิสูจน์ว่ามีความผิด
jail term – the length of time a person is required to spend in jail
exception – something that is different in some way from other things and so cannot be included in a general statement ข้อยกเว้น
grant – to officially give something  ให้
circumstances – facts or conditions that affect a situation เหตุการณ์แวดล้อม
recognise – to accept that something is true or important ยอมรับ
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
joint – done together; belonging to or shared between two or more people ที่ร่วมกัน, ความร่วมมือกัน
embassy – a group of officials who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
intention – a plan in your mind to do something ความตั้งใจ เจตนา
take into account – to consider; to think carefully about the various factors involved before making a decision or developing an opinion พิจารณา, คิดอย่างละเอียด
conflict – an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง
representative – someone who has been chosen or elected by a person or group to vote, give opinions, or make decisions for them ผู้แทน
devastating – damaging badly or destroying ทำลายล้าง
admit – to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it  ยอมรับ
ambassador – a senior official who lives in a foreign country and represents his or her own country there เอกอัครราชทูต
favour – a thing that you do to help somebody  ความช่วยเหลือ, ความเอื้อเฟื้อ
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
motivated – done for a particular reason มีแรงจูงใจ ถูกโน้มน้าวใจ
diplomatic – relating to relations between countries เกี่ยวกับการทูต
matter – a situation or subject which is being dealt with or considered เรื่อง, ภารกิจ, งาน
consideration – giving careful thought to something before making a decision การคิดพิจารณา
righteousness – the quality of being correct according to the law or to proper standards of behaviour ความชอบธรรม
traditional – things that have been part of a country, society or organisation for a long time แบบดั้งเดิม, เป็นประเพณี
practice – a way of doing something การปฏิบัติ
aide – someone whose job is to help another person in their work ผู้ช่วย
adviser – a person who gives advice, especially somebody who knows a lot about a particular subject ที่ปรึกษา
scheduled – planned to happen at a particular time or day ตามตารางเวลา
interview – a meeting (often a public one) at which a journalist asks somebody questions in order to find out their opinions, experiences, etc. การสัมภาษณ์
reporter – someone whose job is to write articles or make broadcasts about events in the news ผู้สื่อข่าว, นักข่าว
correspondent – a newspaper or television reporter, especially one who deals with a particular subject or area นักข่าว
forum – a place where people can express their ideas and opinions การประชุมแสดงความคิดเห็น
address – a formal speech  คำปราศรัย
site – a place where something happened  ที่เกิดเหตุ

Tell us what you think about this article

Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked it

Share this article

0

0

• More +

• Republishing permission
• Print this

Bangkok Post online classifieds

Try buying & selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local & expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.