Ex-premier Thaksin in Dubai; Still holds Thai nationality

6/02/2010

BANGKOK (TNA) – Fugitive, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and not in Cambodia as many have claimed, while he still holds Thai nationality, according to Noppadon Pattama, a legal adviser to Mr Thaksin.

Mr Noppadon disputed earlier claims by Veera Somkwamkid, a leading member of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, who said that the ex-premier would travel with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to the ancient Preah Vihear temple along the Thai-Khmer border on Saturday.

The report on Mr Thaksin would go with Mr Hun Sen to Preah Vihear temple is totally untrue and is aimed at destroying Mr Thaksin’s credibility, Mr Noppadon said.

Touching on a report made by a spokesman of the ruling Democrat Party that Mr Thaksin has changed his nationality to Cambodian, Mr Noppadon said the ousted premier had never thought of changing his nationality.

On Friday, Cambodian government spokesman said in Phnom Penh that his government had never granted Cambodian citizenship to Mr Thaksin.

Cambodia late last year appointed Mr Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, as its special economic adviser. The appointment and Mr Thaksin’s subsequent visit to Cambodia angered the Thai government and resulted in a mutual recall of ambassadors.

Mr Noppadon went on to say that the Democrat Party issued such fabricated reports, and would continue to do so until late this month when Bangkok court will rule on whether the frozen assets worth Bt76.6 billion claimed by Mr Thaksin and his family should be seized by the state.

The court is scheduled to issue its verdict on February 26. (TNA)