OUSTED PM : Beijing faces Thaksin dilemma. Govt tells China ex-PM has lost his diplomatic status

OUSTED PM : Beijing faces Thaksin dilemma. Govt tells China ex-PM has lost his diplomatic status.

Beijing was put on the spot yesterday as the Thai government conveyed its decision to revoke the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and Pojaman Shinawatra, implying that the deposed prime minister and his wife would need to request a visa to extend their stay in China.

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibul-songgram relayed the message to his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

Li told Nitya that Beijing "more than understands" the situation, said a Thai official.

But it remained unclear how the Chinese government would treat a visa application from Thaksin, who has stayed in China for some time since being toppled and has reportedly bought a condominium in Beijing.

Thaksin was in Hong Kong yesterday and plans to fly to Singapore for an extended stay, as the city-state is an Asean member and waives entry visas for Thai citizens, said a source.

Thaksin was seen having a meeting with close aide Yongyuth Tiyapairat in a Hong Kong hotel, the source added.

The government on Wednesday revoked Thaksin and his wife's "red cover", because it deemed that his activities abroad were politically motivated to destabilise the junta and government.

The revocation of the diplomatic passports, the holder of which is entitled to enter 50 countries without a visa, means Thaksin will now have to apply for entry visas to visit most foreign countries.

A source familiar with Chinese diplomatic circles told The Nation that Bangkok had never informed Beijing of how they would like the Chinese government to deal with Thaksin's alleged political activities.

Unless there is a request from the Thai government, Beijing will continue to treat Thaksin as "an old friend", said the diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A Thai businessman who ran into Thaksin in Beijing last month said the deposed premier was being assisted by Thai Embassy staff during his visit to the Chinese capital.

The government on Wednesday also prohibited all Thai embassies from providing Thaksin with VIP treatment and ordered that he be treated as an ordinary Thai national living abroad.

Thaksin yesterday hit back at the government decision, saying sarcastically that he hoped his citizen's identity card would not be revoked as well.

His legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, said Thaksin was surprised to learn that his red-cover passport had been terminated over allegations that he had engaged in political activities to destabilise the junta and military-installed government.

"Revoking the passport of a former prime minister is a move to destroy the confidence and credibility of the Kingdom as a whole," said Noppadon, adding that this was "not the way to make national reconciliation".

Officials at the Foreign Ministry must take responsibility if it is found in the future that the decision was groundless, he added.

The Nation
Friday January 12, 2007