Surapong has to come clean on that passport

It was clear that between personal and national interest, Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul chose the former. He still has the audacity to lie about the date when the government granted a passport to Thaksin Shinawatra, who is still on the run. It is good that his action has been scrutinised by the Opposition and civil society groups, they will push for his impeachment. Surapong said he was ready to defend his decision.

Since he took over the portfolio in August, Surapong has been hard at work to get Thaksin’s passport. He was quite open about it. When he met with reporters a few days after he took the job, he said he would find ways to secure a Thai passport for him. It was an open secret that Thaksin gave him the job to do just that – to weaken the travel restrictions placed on him by the previous government. If the Abhisit government did not do it with good faith, it had to be responsible for its action as well.

But it’s sad that the country is once again confused about Thaksin’s status and the role of the Foreign Ministry. It was clear that as long as Thaksin was still on the run, he should not be given a Thai passport. After all, he became a citizen of Montenegro, so he could use their passport to travel. In fact, he can travel to more countries with than passport without visa restrictions than the Thai one. So, the granting of a passport to Thaksin has much broader meaning, especially when it has to do with his legal status.

It is obvious that Surapong is trying to save Thaksin from disgrace. Soon, he will travel to all major countries that have ties with Thailand – Australia, China, the US and Europe – to break the travel ‘sanctions’. These countries would not deny him entry now his sister is the prime minister. After all, all this mess is domestic and has been going for so long that foreign countries dealing with us are fed up. Therefore, they would do whatever seems fit to keep good relations with Thailand – no matter what colour he represents.

The Foreign Ministry must also explain to the public if Thaksin is on still on a national blacklist. It looks as if the ministry has something to hide or that officials were following instructions from “the boss” on what to say and do. The ministry also must tell the truth when the passport was issued to the former PM. Now, there are two versions – one from the Opposition spokesman, the other from the ministry. Just a couple of months ago, the Democrats’ Chavanond Intarakamalyasut was secretary to the foreign minister. So, he must know what he talked about. The ministry’s spokesman is still the same person. He also must know what he is talking about.

The passport fiasco has gone on for too long. It has caused a lot of damage to the country’s reputation as well as the Foreign Ministry’s creditability. Therefore, let use make sure that whatever it is, the truth prevails.