Coss Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 The opposition Democrat Party is seeking to take legal action against Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul for helping ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to enter Japan. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said it was wrong for the government to arrange for Thaksin, who is on the run from justice, to get special permission to visit Japan between Aug 22-28. Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail in 2008 for abusing his authority to help Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, his former wife, to buy prime land in the Ratchadaphisek area at a discount while he was prime minister. He fled overseas before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to two years in jail in his absence. Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul (L), ex-premier Abhisit Vejjajiva Mr Abhisit said the Yingluck government is obliged to comply with the verdict and enforce the law by bringing Thaksin back to face justice. Government officials who are found to help a fugitive could also face prosecution, Mr Abhisit said. He said the Democrats' lawyers are looking at legal steps to be taken against Mr Surapong and other government officials who may be involved. Yukio Edano, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, confirmed that the Thai government requested that Japan issue an entry visa to Thaksin. Japan decided to issue an entry visa to Thaksin after the Pheu Thai-led government told Tokyo it no longer wished to restrict his overseas travel. Thaksin said yesterday he would travel to areas hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami during his trip to Japan next week to see what Thailand can do to help its reconstruction efforts, a news report said. "My intention is to visit the tsunami site to see whether we can render any kind of cooperation or assistance," Thaksin said in an interview with Kyodo News in Dubai. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/252139/democrats-target-surapong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamui Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 The opposition Democrat Party is seeking to take legal action against Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul for helping ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to enter Japan. First Germany and now Japan. I wonder what they told/offered to the governments concerned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 << "My intention is to visit the tsunami site to see whether we can render any kind of cooperation or assistance," Thaksin said in an interview with Kyodo News in Dubai. >> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Hi, Flash, that was exactly what I noticed as well. It is beyond ridiculous that he is involved in this. Sounds like he is already beginning to act as if he is the PM again. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 Democrats move to impeach Surapong The Democrat Party has initiated a bid to impeach Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul for breaching the charter in his handling of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's planned visit to Japan. The move came after Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano, confirmed that Tokyo had decided to issue a visa for the ex-premier Thaksin after receiving a request from the Thai government. Mr Yukio was quoted as saying that "the Thai government has taken a policy of not prohibiting former prime minister Thaksin from visiting any country and requested that Japan issue a visa." Nipit Intarasombat, head of the opposition party's legal team, said the foreign minister's press interviews indicate the minister had engaged a policy before the Pheu Thai-led government had delivered its policy statement to parliament. Mr Surapong's actions had breached Section 176 of the constitution, he said. Mr Surapong met Japanese ambassador Seiji Kojima to apparently discuss Thaksin's trip to Japan and the foreign minister said on several occasions that Thaksin's visit would benefit Thailand, Mr Nipit said. Mr Nipit said the party's legal team had drafted an impeachment document and would collect signatures from 125 MPs before submitting it to the Senate on Aug 22. The impeachment bid would be sent to the National Anti-Corruption Commission if it is approved by three-fifths of the Senate, or 90 senators. The Democrats also filed a complaint with Phaya Thai police against Mr Surapong, accusing him of helping Thaksin escape a court detention order. Mr Nipit said the foreign minister had been aware of Thaksin's planned visit to Japan but failed to coordinate with authorities in seeking his arrest and bringing him to justice. Moreover, the foreign minister is believed to have asked Japan to facilitate the trip. According to Mr Nipit, there is no evidence that Mr Surapong acted based on an order from the prime minister. "But if he didn't get an order, he wouldn't have done it," he said. Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong said yesterday that Mr Surapong is the "devil in disguise". "We'll see a foreign minister in jail," he said. "Instead of bringing Thaksin to justice, he urged Japan to grant him a visa. Mr Surapong's act is equivalent to aiding Thaksin in his escape." Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra denied any involvement in Thaksin's visa for Japan. "I have no policy about this and had nothing to do with it," she said. "We have to put up with it." Thaksin's legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, warned the opposition to carefully study the law before filing a motion to impeach the minister or it might face a counter-suit for making false statements. He said it was normal for Thaksin to travel to different countries. During the prior administration, he made several overseas trips to discuss business. Pheu Thai MPs reacted in uproar at the impeachment talk and accused the Democrats of politicising the matter. "It is a disgrace for the Democrat Party to try to discredit Pheu Thai and the government which has yet to announce a policy statement," said Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said Mr Surapong and the government had no involvement in helping Thaksin obtain the visa. He said the decision was at the sole discretion of the Japanese government. BP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 p.s. We need an Oberfeldwebel Schultz icon to use for Lingyak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgcxGFmYyPs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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