August 22, 2008
Bangkok - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej revealed his government had no plan to revoke the ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s diplomatic passport.
Foreign ministry was in the process of invalidating Thaksin’s red passport after he had skipped bail and fled to the United Kingdom.
Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag already submitted the issue of Thaksin’s passport cancellation to the premier, saying the issue should be decided by the head of the government.
"The government has no policy to revoke Thaksin's red passport," Samak said.
The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators marched to the foreign ministry to call for the revocation of Thaksin and his wife’s passports.
The couple were said to seek political asylum in Britain, claiming they could not have fair trials in Thailand.
Pojaman has already been convicted of tax evasion but has appealed.
Previously, prosecutors and the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) announced that they would ask the Supreme Court to confiscate 2.2 billion dollars of the Shinawatra family.
