absolutelyBangkok archive · On our own
Originally published May 13, 2009
With his latest acquisition of yet another, this time Montenegrin passport — these things don’t come for free — former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has not only become a European citizen who could proudly say — based loosely on JFK’s famous speech –
Ich bin ein Europäer.
Thaksin has strengthened his position as Thailand’s first truly multinational former head of government. Add the old Thai and newer Nicaraguan and possibly other passports — and you got a true cosmopolitan. I wonder what the Thai constitution says about higher offices and multiple citizenships.
But that many passports can bring you only that much personal freedom. If he’s leaving the hideout wherever he resides his lawyers must be busy planning secure escape routes. An emergency landing with his private jet, an unforseen regulation — and Thaksin could soon be the world’s most famous extradition prisoner.
Thaksin would be the modern world’s first former prime minister and alleged criminal who manages to escape “justice” over a longer period of time, just to mention Fujimori who dared to live a life on the run.
With his new Balkan passport Thaksin inherits a very own Balkanization.
Thaksin was once told by some famous fortune teller that one day he’ll live in exile and lose everything. Thaksin still fights the exception that proves the rule that a man forges his own destiny.
From the absolutelyBangkok archive. Back to all stories