Thaksin’s new name : Takki Shinegra

Thaksin’s name in passports issued by Nicaragua, Uganda and Montenegro has been changed to “Takki Shinegra,” he said.

The Thai government has revoked Thaksin’s diplomatic passport issued during his premiership. He was believed to have an ordinary Thai passport. Some African countries have issued him a special passport to facilitate his travels and his visit to the countries.

Panich said Thaksin’s new name may cause problem for Thailand’s attempt to bring him back to face two-year jail term on charge of corruption.

“Problems can happen when we ask foreign countries to extradite him. We name him in our request  as Thaksin Shinawatra but when those countries check his presence, they would not find him because he used different name,” Panich said.

The Nation

Former PM Samak dies of cancer on Tuesday

Samak Sundaravej, the 25th prime minister of Thailand, died of cancer on Tuesday morning. He was 74. Samak had been treated for cancer in Bamrungrat Hospital in Bangkok for months. He went into coma on Sunday and died on Tuesday.

He was pronounced dead at the Bamrungrad Hospital at 9:33 am Tuesday. He would be remembered as one of the most colourful and controversial figures in Thai politics. He was known for his sharp tongue and short temper.

The veteran politician was also a celebrity cook, a newspaper columnist and owner, a Bangkok governor elected with the highest number of votes, a multiple-term MP, and a Cabinet member serving in many ministerial portfolios, including interior, transport and agriculture.

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Udon red-shirt leader disagrees with holding rally before HM’s birthday

A local red-shirt leader here Sunday expressed opposition to holding an anti-government rally before His Majesty the King’s birthday, fearing the red-shirt movement would be seen as being disloyal to the King.

Despite the concern, Kwanchai Praiphana, chairman of the Udon Thani Loving People, said the final decision would depend on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The trio leaders of the red-shirt movement – Veera Musigapong, Natthawut Saikua and Jatuporn Promphan – announced earlier that they would hold a mass rally against the government from November 28 to December 3.

“I think there should be no movement before December 5 or else the red-shirt people will be seen with no loyalty for His Majesty,” Kwanchai said.

“At that time, there will be rehearsals of the Trooping of the Colour so it is inappropriate to rally in those days.”

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Northern police chief confident of security measures for PM

The commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 5 Saturday expressed confidence that police could keep security for the prime minister when he visits Chiang Mai next Sunday.

Pol Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom said he had prepared measures for keeping security for the prime minister when he attends the Chamber of Commerce meeting next Sunday.

Somkid said police were monitoring the use of community radio stations and would take legal actions against anyone who would use the radio programmes to incite unrest.

The Nation

I’m fine, mum : Siwarak

Thai envoy meets for the first time on Tuesday Thai engineer detained in a Cambodian prison on charge of spying flight information of ex-Thai Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen.

The Cambodian side contacted Thai embassy in Phnom Penh on Tuesday morning, confirming that the envoy; Chalotorn Paowiboon, can meet Siwarak Chutipong at the prison. Later the envoy then met Siwarak and contacted his mother; Simaluck Na Nakhon Panom, allowing him to talk to his mother. Simaluck quoted her son as saying that he is ok.

This is the first contact of Siwarak since he was arrested last week in Phnom Penh last week. Cambodian authorities had earlier refused consular visit of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. Simaluck who was a teacher of Nakhon Ratchasima Technical College in Nakhon Ratchasima said she was ready to go to Phnom Penh to visit her son.

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Cambodia’s arrest of Thai is intimidation : Thai Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday that Cambodia’s arrest of a Thai engineer on spying charges is nothing more than intimidation with the intention to defame Thailand. Cambodia has charged Siwarak Chothipong, an engineer of Cambodia Air Traffic Services, for “stealing” the flight information of ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen.

Cambodian prosecutors alleged that Siwarak stole the information and sent it to Thai embassy’s first secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai. Cambodia on Thursday expelled Kamrob following the accusation that he had executed work in contradiction to his position. He was ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. “It is clearly intimidation with intent to defame Thailand by Cambodia,” said Kasit, who cut short his participation in ministerial preparatory meetings for the Apec Summit in Singapore.

He accused Thaksin of being the major cause of all the problems Thailand having with Cambodia. He said he had assigned officials of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh to assist and provide legal advice to Siwarak. Cambodia’s appointment of Thaksin as the adviser to Hun Sen and his government has seen the start of the current diplomatic rows between the neighbouring countries. Both have recalled their ambassadors and the first secretaries. Thailand has downgraded relations and reviewed cooperation with and loans given to Cambodia. 

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Cambodia expels Thai embassy’s first secretary

Thai and Cambodian diplomatic flares again Thursday after Cambodia expels a first secretary of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry ordered one of the Thai Embassy’s the first secretaries to leave the country within 48 hours, starting from 5pm.

Learning of the order, the Thai side countered by expelling the first secretary of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok and ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours, starting from 5pm, said Thai government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn.

The Nation

Bangkok to review loans for Cambodia’s road projects

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday ordered an review of two road construction projects with Cambodia which involved loans of more than Bt1.4 bn to Phnom Penh.

The review is a further move of his government to protest Cambodia’s appointment of convicted ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Khmer PM Hun Sen and his government.

Deputy Finance Minister Pruetichai Damrongrat told reporters that the No 68 road will link Chong Chom checkpoint in Surin province to Cambodia. Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said that the cabinet will not consider an financial assistance of Bt31 million to Cambodia in its meeting next week.

The proposal is put on hold as a measure of Thailand to protest Cambodia. In a separate interview, Abhisit said he was considering further measures against Cambodia, but vowed that his government would not seal off checkpoints on the border and said that the rift with Phnom Penh would not lead to violence.

“I don’t want the situation going out of control,” he said.

The Nation

Cambodian govt recalls its ambassador

The Cambodian government on Thursday evening announced to temporarily call back its Ambassador to Thailand, a move came shortly after Thai government’s recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.

The decision was announced at 8:30 pm local time by Sok An, minister of council of ministers, at a hastily arranged press conference.”The move we took is a response to Thai’s recall of its Ambassador to Cambodia,” Sok An said.”That we appointed Thaksin as our government’s adviser is Cambodia’s internal affairs and conforms to international practice.

“Earlier Thursday, the Thai government decided to recall its Ambassador to Cambodia to protest against the appointment of the ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as adviser of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the government.

The decision came one day after Cambodian government announced appointment of Thaksin as adviser of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government. The appointment was signed by by Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni. Moreover, the Cambodian government repeated its refusal to extradite Thaksin if requested.

The Thai government said that it is ready to demand of revising bilateral agreements, which have been agreed by the two countries.

The Thai government’s movement is based on diplomatic principle, which does not intend to any violence to occur between the two neighboring countries, Thai Foreign Ministry said.

 The Nation

Thailand recalls ambassador to protest Cambodia

Thailand on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh in protest at Cambodia’s appointment of convicted ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.

The Thai government will demand reviews of bilateral agreements and commitments signed between Thailand and Cambodia by both present and past governments, according to the statement issued on Thursday.

Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh Prasas Prasavinitchai is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at 3pm.

The Cambodian government appointed fugitive Thaksin as economic adviser to Hun Sen and the Cambodian government in an order signed by Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni on Wednesday.

Hun Sen announced upon his arrival in Thailand in October to attend the Asean Summit that he had offered Thaksin, who he regards as a friend, a residence and a job as his economic adviser.

The Thai Foreign Ministry’s decision to recall the ambassador is the strongest protest made in years.

The statement also mentioned that the ongoing cooperation between the two countries would be put on hold for the time being.

Foreign Minister’s secretary Chavanont Intarakomalsut said the appointment of Thaksin as Hun Sen’s adviser was considered as intervening in the Thai justice system.

“The appointment of Thaksin as the adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is regarded as an intervention in Thailand’s internal affairs and an insult to the Thai justice system,” he said in a press conference.

The appointment clearly showed that the Khmer premier failed to distinguish between his personal interests and the mutual interests of the two countries, he said.

The Nation