Samak vows to defend Thaksin - The Nation, August 19, 2008
[Notable for Wasit's humorous comment.]
...When Samak arrived, he complained about the
heavy presence of reporters and cameramen. MP Wasit, who is close to
Thaksin's politician sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, was heard saying: "They
just want to photograph someone who rarely attends party meetings."...
Run, Thaksin, run - Economist, August 14,
2008
...Right up until the early evening on August
10th, the deposed prime minister’s spokesman was insisting that the
couple would return that day to Bangkok, to appear in court the next
morning...
Inoculating Thailand against one-man rule -
IHT, August 13,
2008
...Thaksin bought his popularity
and the support of the rural poor in Thailand. He purchased or
intimidated media outlets. He countenanced extra-judicial
assassinations as a tool for waging a highly publicized war on drugs
while leaving alone the drug lords in neighboring Burma, who are the
source of that trade. He provoked popular protest when he sold his
family's 49 percent share in the Shin telecommunications company for
$1.9 billion to a Singaporean company and claimed exemption from any
capital gains tax. And he is currently fleeing charges that he used his
power to secure insider deals on real-estate purchases for
family members...
Text of Thaksin's letter to the media - Bangkok Post, August 11, 2008
...What happened to myself and my family was like
the fruit from poisonous trees. The fruit was also poisonous. What I
mean is that there has been a continuation of dictatorship in Thai
politics under the democratic system. That was followed by interference
in the judicial process. My cases have been pre-judged, to get rid of
me and my family, who are regarded by a group of people as their
political enemies, irrespective of the law and international principles
of justice. My family and I have been continually treated unfairly...
Right: August 11, 18:15 - CNN reporting on Thaksin in exile August 11, 11:55 - Thaksin announces his decision to seek asylum in England Overnight - Thai PM Thaksin flies to London rather than face corruption charges - Daily Mail, August 10, 2008 |
August 11, 00:15 - Thaksin fleeing to England?
From The Nation: ...People's Power Party MP Pracha Prasopdee told people awaiting to see Thaksin at Suvarabhumi Airport that Thaksin would not return home last night.
He possibly came back Monday morning and go directly to the Supreme Court.
Samut Prakarn MP Pracha said people should go home.
Pracha said said tongue in cheek that Thaksin could issue a statement from London why he did not go to Bangkok as scheduled. He did not elaborate...
August 10, 23:01 - "Thaksin statement from London at 9:00 am"
Thai-language media are reporting that Thaksin will be making a statement from London at 9:00 am. This would appear to indicate that he and his family have left for exile overseas.
August 10, 16:44 - Lawyer says Thaksin, wife will appear in court Monday - TNA, August 10, 2008
...Lawyer Kamnuan Chalopatham said Mr. Thaksin and Mrs. Pojaman Shinawatra would appear at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to fight charges on the Bangkok land scandal...
Opening page from the Hi-Thaksin website - 2007
Thaksin's return - 2008
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Thaksin's reality show - 2005 Thaksin addresses the nation after the Tak Bai incident - 2004 |
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Thaksin's Life comic - 2006 Thaksin Dictionary - 2004Pro-Thaksin demonstrators at Chatuchak Park - 2006 Election posters - 2005 |
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Thaksin email forwards - 2008 |
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True-Thaksin website - 2007 High tension in Thailand - 2005-2008 The strange saga of TOTV - "Thaksin TV" - 2007 |
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
The Shinawatras - 2006