Bangkok Post, December 18, 2011
The Democrat Party is threatening to file a criminal lawsuit and lodge a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission against those involved in issuing an ordinary passport to Thaksin Shinawatra.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday accused Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul of violating his ministry's regulations and exploiting loopholes in relevant laws in favour of Thaksin.
Mr Chavanond, who was a secretary to the foreign minister during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, also accused Mr Surapong of lying to the public.
He said that Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi had said that the ministry had approved the issuance of a passport for Thaksin on Oct 26, a day after the former prime minister made the request through the Thai embassy in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Surapong admitted on Friday that Thaksin's Thai passport has been valid since Oct 26.
The Democrat spokesman said this belied Mr Surapong's claim on Dec 2 that the ministry was still considering returning Thaksin's passport.
The Democrat Party would explore relevant laws before filing a criminal lawsuit in the case, Mr Chavanond said.
The spokesman called for Foreign Ministry officials to reveal the truth on the issuance of the passport to Thaksin, including whether the former premier actually filed a passport application on Oct 25.
The public wanted to know if Thaksin, Mr Surapong or Mr Noppadon had lied, he said.
Mr Chavanond said issuing the passport was against ministry regulation 21(3), which prohibits the issuance of a passport to a person wanted under an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday called for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to look into the passport issuance and tell the public herself whether it was lawful.
Tul Sitthisomwong, leader of the Network of Citizen Volunteers to Protect the Land, also threatened to file a criminal lawsuit against the foreign minister.
Dr Tul said he believed Thaksin had not requested it through a Thai embassy abroad.
"The passport was issued in Thailand and the only person who has the authority to order the issuance is the foreign minister," he said.
Mr Surapong yesterday said he was not at all worried about the moves by the Democrats and anti-Thaksin movements to take legal action against him.
He said he was ready to clarify the process and to defend himself through the judicial process. The minister said he had abided by all regulations of the Foreign Ministry and relevant laws.
Regarding reports that the Democrat Party planned to file an impeachment motion against Ms Yingluck over the passport issue, Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said his party would file a counter lawsuit against the Democrats if false information was cited to back the motion.
"The passport issue was the Foreign Ministry's affair, not the prime minister's," said Mr Prompong.
Meanwhile, Thaksin arrived in Nepal for a private visit on Friday, Kyodo News reported yesterday.
Foreign news agencies reported yesterday that the former prime minister flew from Burma to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on a private plane.
Thaksin was received at the airport by Thai Ambassador to Nepal Maris Sangiampongsa.
Thaksin then took a regular scheduled flight to Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha, 300km southwest of the Nepalese capital, the Kyodo News agency reported.
Thaksin, accompanied by around 12 people including the ambassador, was to offer prayers at a Thai monastery and Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini.
"Though we are not officially aware of his travel plans, we learned he was scheduled to fly out of Nepal late yesterday," airport security chief Narayan Bastakoti said.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment