Now Thaksin Holds a Passport from - are you ready? Montenegro

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Here's something else for my "I Don't Get It" list. Isn't it true that if you or I were convicted felons on the run as fugitives, we would be arrested upon presenting our passport when trying to enter a foreign country? I thought that was true. If it is, why do none of these countries arrest him? Why do they accept him? Why do they let him enter? Also, why are countries such as Nicaragua and Montenegro issuing him passports at all? Solely on the basis of his wealth? Is that all it takes to get passports from multiple countries, just be rich enough?

 

Well, maybe his next passport will be issued by Burkina Faso while he's visiting beautiful downtown Ouagoudougou.

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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Convicted Thaksin Holds Montenegro Passport

 

According to his Montenegro passport, Thaksin who has been running away from a two-year jail term in Thailand, arrived in Monrovia, capital of Liberia on April 20 and departed it on April 23.

 

Earlier reports confirmed that he is also holding a Nicaraguan passport as he is appointed as "special ambassador" by Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega.

 

Thai government has revoked all his passports, including diplomatic and ordinary passports, after he became fugitive.

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The following appears in THE NATION:

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Govt Using All Means to Corner Thaksin

 

Published on April 28, 2009

 

Two Passports Confirmed, Third Might Be Cambodian Travel Document

 

The government is taking every possible step to narrow the political space fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's has on the globe by using the Interpol and other diplomatic moves to corner him, a senior government official said yesterday.

 

Thaksin might be able to stay in Dubai, but United Arab Emirates will not allow him to use the gulf state as a launching pad against the Thai government, said Vice Foreign Minister Panich Vikitsreth.

 

"The UAE government has told us that Thaksin could not use the country as his political base, but could return as an investor," Panich said in an interview yesterday.

 

The UAE and Thailand are preparing an extradition treaty, he said, adding that Abu Dhabi had already sent a draft for consideration.

 

Asked if the government was aware of the movements being made by some former executives of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party to meet Thaksin in Dubai, Panich said nobody could be barred from travelling abroad or meeting anybody.

 

"We don't know where they are going and for what purpose, but they have the right because they are only banned from politics, not travel," Panich explained.

 

Two weeks ago, the government told Interpol to blacklist Thaksin and arrest him if they can, he said.

 

Thai authorities have also sent arrest warrants against Thaksin to all concerned countries, he said.

 

In addition, the foreign ministry has informed all nations that have diplomatic relations with Thailand about Thaksin's movements and the government's concerns, he said.

 

Even though Thaksin's Thai passports, both diplomatic and ordinary, were revoked the former premier continues moving around with foreign travel documents. Reports have confirmed that Thaksin is holding a Nicaraguan passport and has been made special ambassador by President Daniel Ortega.

 

He was also said to have landed in Liberia last week with Montenegro passport and unconfirmed reports say he might also have a Cambodian passport. Since the foreign ministry has no clear information about Thaksin's Cambodian passport, it could not take any action on the issue, Panich said.

 

However, he added, Phnom Penh as already been told about the government's concerns over Thaksin's political movements. "We are being very careful with the matter because relations with Cambodia are very sensitive," he said.

 

However, Panich said, what passport Thaksin travels with is not important. He explained that as long as the former PM uses his own name, his appearance in any country would show up on Interpol's radar and he will be under surveillance in host countries.

 

The government is closely monitoring Jakrapob Penkair's movements, though his whereabouts are still unknown, Panich said. The Immigration Bureau has no records on Jakrapob's departure, he said.

 

Jakrapob, a former spokesman for Thaksin, was charged of lese majeste and freed on bail.

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Unless there is some sort of international warrant out for your arrest or a warrant in the country you are trying to enter then I don't think there is any reason you would be stopped as long as you present valid travel documents. How many extradition treaties does Thailand have? I would guess that most of these little tin pot countries don't have such treaties with Thailand.

 

He has probably had most, if not all, of these passports up his sleeve for quite some time just in case. There are plenty of countries around the world where money talks. And apparently Thaksin has plenty of cash stashed apart from all of his frozen assets. He is traveling by leased private jet according to reports. That ain't cheap. Now whether all of these renewed efforts to stop his travels actually come to much or not remains to be seen. The UAE said they wouldn't let him back at first and now they say he is welcome to stay as long as he isn't doing politics. Of course he is always doing politics somehow.

 

While I think he belongs in jail it is most likely better for the government that he is not in the country. What sort of treatment would he get in jail? Would they put him in solitary confinement?