Govt: UAE may eject Thaksin

Published: 29/11/2009
Bangkok Post

The United Arab Emirates would ask fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (pictured) to leave the country if he uses it as a base for attacking the Thai government, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's assistant Panit Vikitset said on Sunday.

"The UAE has agreed with the Thai government that if Thaksin uses the country as a base for urging people to gather in political rallies and criticising the Privy Council, he would be asked to leave immediately," Panit said.

He said the country would allow the ousted premier to stay as a businessman or a normal citizen.

The Thai government did not make a mistake when it decided to revoke Thaksin's passport since it had to follow the regulations, he said.

"If anyone causes damage to the country, the person's passport will be revoked," he said.

Responding to Thaksin's comment that he would reside in Dubai throughout his life, the Foreign Ministry had send a letter to the UAE government after the red-shirt leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) travelled to Dubai to meet him.

"It is the responsibility of the Interpol to track Thaksin down," Panit said.

He insisted Thaksin had changed his name to 'Takki Shinegra' in his foreign passports after the name 'Thaksin Shinawatra' did not appear in the arrival lists of many countries.

Thaksin earlier posted a Twitter message, rejecting the news that he was using a new name.