Thaksin to get 'new passport'
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Surapong plans New Year's gift for ex-premier; same mandate to be used to revoke Kasit's cancellation order
The government is close to reissuing a passport to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday, denying there was a link between the issuing of the passport and the fugitive former PM’s homecoming.
“I want the passport to be a New Year gift for him,” he said.
Surapong said his ministry was putting the finishing touches to a regular passport and dismissed speculation that Thaksin would be granted diplomatic travel papers.
He said that though his predecessor Kasit Piromya had invoked a ministerial jurisdiction to cancel Thaksin’s passport, he would rely on the same mandate to revoke the order.
“The issuing of a passport is solely under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Ministry,” he said in defiance of Thaksin’s opponents.
He also said that he deemed it appropriate to issue Thaksin a passport despite his fugitive status, because other fugitives, like veteran politicians Somchai Kunplome and Vatana Assavahame, still had their passports.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, meanwhile, said that she had nothing to do with the matter though she fully supported the Foreign Ministry’s work as sanctioned by relevant laws and regulations.
“I confirm that my government will do everything in accordance with the rule of law,” she said.
Yingluck added that the issue of Thaksin being granted a passport should be seen in the context of every Thai citizen being given fair and equitable treatment.
She added that she would not interfere with the Foreign Ministry’s review on whether or not to reissue the passport.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government seems to be giving higher priority to rescuing Thaksin rather than helping flood victims, and warned that this hasty move to bring the former leader back would drive a deeper wedge in society.
The former PM’s legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, said reissuing Thaksin’s passport was the first step towards restoring justice for his client.
Thaksin is currently using a passport issued by Montenegro, he said, adding that the ex-premier’s travel plans will not be affected by whether or not he has a Thai passport.
“Getting a national passport will be a gesture of rectifying the injustice inflicted on Thaksin,” he said.
He added that Abhisit’s government had tried but failed to stop Thaksin from travelling, and also rejected speculation of protests erupting in opposition to Thaksin being re-issued a passport.
Tul Sitthisomwong, leader of the multicoloured shirts, said he would launch legal proceedings, including an impeachment motion, against Surapong if he authorised a passport for a fugitive like Thaksin.
As an upholder of the law, the government is obliged to track down Thaksin and bring him back to serve his jail term, Tul said, lashing out at Surapong for helping the fugitive elude punishment.
