politics

Thailand's fugitive ex-PM Thaksin gets visa to visit Japan

13 Comments

Thailand's fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Japan from next Monday after being given a visa by the Japanese government. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a news conference on Monday that Thaksin was granted a visa after being asked to do so by Thailand's new government, headed by Thaksin's younger sister Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thaksin, who has been living in exile in Dubai since being ousted in a coup in 2006, will give speeches to a business forum and address students at Tama University in Tokyo as well as visit tsunami-hit areas in Miyagi Prefecture. He will stay in Japan until Aug 28.

Japan does not allow the entry of people who have been found guilty of a crime and sentenced to jail terms of more than one year, but the government occasionally makes exceptions. Thaksin was sentenced to two years for abuse of authority in granting permission to his wife to purchase a piece of land from a stage agency while he was holding a position in government. The Thai government made the request to Tokyo in the interest of improving bilateral relations, Edano said.

However, the Bangkok Post on Monday quoted a Thai government spokesman as saying that the government had nothing to do with Thaksin's visit to Japan because the former prime minister received an invitation from the Japan, China, Asean Institute of Economy and Culture in June, before the July 3 general election.

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13 Comments
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Nobody knows Thaksin as well as thai people.There is no real democrat in Thailand, thai people are conflicted by the army and the elites. They want to be free from the conservative government that supported the rich people. The more enough truth they face make them depressed and hopeless. Most thai people expect new government to solve some problems and are not interested in Thaksin.

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Maybe they discovered (invented is a better word) his Japanese nationality like they did Fujimori's.

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asagao, what world do you live on? Never been to Thailand then. The Thai legal system is politically corrupt and biased. Being a Thai fugitive means there is a fair chance he COULD be innocent. The Thai justice system is based on who you know, and money. Not torts. fact.

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Japan has a history of inviting fugitives to come and stay here. Happened with Fujimori as well, though in that case it was ancestry that let him stay, not a government visa.

I seriously can't understand how a 'fugitive' gets a free pass from the government he's a fugitive from to go wherever he pleases.

"However, the Bangkok Post on Monday quoted a Thai government spokesman as saying that the government had nothing to do with Thaksin’s visit to Japan because the former prime minister received an invitation from the Japan, China, Asean Institute of Economy and Culturein June, before the July 3 general election."

Sounds more likely.

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Even if his sister is the PM, send him back. If he is innocent...he has no worries.

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So it's one rule for Thaksin Shinawatra, and another for Paris Hilton....Good!! :)

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The above is spot on. All he did was an offshore deal and now his sister is the PM. Not to rub it in but a lot of Japanese criminals (yakuza) retire in Thailand and it is Japan's number 1 trade partner for rice, fruit and veges... I remember when he chartered that 747 in 2006...dude had 18 LV suitcases filled with cash.

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Arrest this criminal and extradite him back to Thailand to face justice.

Unlikely considering his sister is in government.

Dont let this theif into Japan, show some back bone japan, look at the harm and damage he did to the people of thailand.

Compared to other recent rulers of Thailand he actually did some good for his country and he has always supported the poor. Show me an uncorrupt Thai politician and I'll show you a liar.

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@Asagao his application was made by Thai gov. stated in the 1st para.

after years of turmoil in Thailand, it seems that the winner is taksin's group. either he is TOO right or TOO wrong but it said something about his real capability.

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Arrest this criminal and extradite him back to Thailand to face justice.

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Japan sees Thailand as a business opportunity, and will happily admit the criminal to curry favour with the new PM. Self-interest trumps principle every time.

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Dont let this theif into Japan, show some back bone japan, look at the harm and damage he did to the people of thailand.

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