Thaksin aide denies UK talks

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Published: 8 Sep 2012 at 20.34
Online news: Local News

An aide to Thaksin Shinawatra has denied knowledge of reports that Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat and high-ranking officers from the ministry were flying to meet Thaksin in the United Kingdom.

Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, declined to comment on the report, saying only that he had spoken with the deposed former premier on Saturday and was not informed about any such meeting.

He said Thaksin would stay in the UK until the end of this month. He was also due to deliver a speech on the economy and the Asian region in Italy by Sept 15, he said.

Reports said ACM Sukumpol and his entourage left Bangkok at noon on Friday.

ACM Sukumpol has faced criticism over the transfers of senior Defence Ministry officials who disagreed with his choice for a new permanent secretary.

Media reports said the minister and Thaksin were expected to discuss concerns that the Administrative Court may block ACM Sukumpol's order to transfer defence permanent secretary Sathian Phoemthongin and his deputy Chatree Thatti to inactive posts.

ACM Sukumpol wanted to promote assistant army chief Thanongsak Apirakyothin, reportedly a Thaksin favourite, to replace Gen Sathian who is to retire next month. Gen Sathian favoured his deputy Gen Chatree as his successor.

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bikeme
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Discussion 10 : 09 Sep 2012 at 08.5410
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D3 - Obviously the current government has already resolved Thaksin of all wrong doings, revoked any international warrants against him and probably told the governments it was all just an "honest mistake". Basically whitewashing him overseas and in the process furthering Thailand's image as a banana republic one step further. Fortunately/unfortunately (depending on your point of view) they can't give Thaksin a free pass here in Thailand because they know it would undermine any respect for the courts and create havoc in the streets once again.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 9 : 09 Sep 2012 at 08.419
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Whether it is legal or illegal, I don't know, but once Thaksin gets control of the Army, he then only has to get control over the independent institutions, and then he can do whatever he likes and nobody will stop him. Though he may have to deal with very large and continuous street demonstrations, which I expect will get out of hand because of the Red Shirt mobs.
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android
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Discussion 8 : 09 Sep 2012 at 07.108
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When defence minister returns from england, dems and the green peace shirts will as usual yell that Sukumpol needs to remain impartial and file complaint to NACC to investigate him.
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khunbj
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Discussion 7 : 09 Sep 2012 at 07.077
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Oh...another one of those rumors...a decent paper would follow up and show photos of the meeting so that the readers for themselves could see, that yes, there was a meeting and no this was not just another rumor about TS made to improve sales.
And just a general comment...yes believe it or not but beside from in states run by a military dictatorship then the Army commander and his subordinates can be removed from their positions by the defense minister or the PM/President...in Thailand the army is a state in the state and it's position is safeguarded by the constitution.
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crunchy
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Discussion 6 : 09 Sep 2012 at 06.226
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Dictatorship in disguised.
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pete
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Discussion 5 : 09 Sep 2012 at 06.165
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Disc3: Yes, it is extraordinary. Thaksin's UK visa was revoked and his UK assets(4.2billion)frozen in 2008. I have not heard that anything has changed and assume the ban on his entry to the UK is still in force.
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DickFarang
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Discussion 4 : 08 Sep 2012 at 23.284
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“... this means a defence minister has the power to transfer a general, or even an army commander from his post.”

In a democratic country that seems absolutely normal.
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victor Careford

Discussion 3 : 08 Sep 2012 at 22.573
So, let me get this right, a convicted criminal, on the run from Thai justice, is now in England and then will fly to Italy to address a meeting about Asian economics? Does anyone else find this extraordinary?
from iPhone application.
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meme
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Discussion 2 : 08 Sep 2012 at 22.472
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The regime continues to flood us with 'white' lies.
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bonzo
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Discussion 1 : 08 Sep 2012 at 22.011
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“An aide…”. Why not just save time and say “Noppadon” in the first place?
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